GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



shots at Yellow-bill, Red-bill, etc, we waded in to coUect 

 the slain. Among the many Coots and Dabchicks that were 

 swimming about in a startled fashion, I suddenly noticed 

 some Hottentots, but it was not until I examined them with 

 a pair of powerfid field-glasses that I could make them out. 

 There were over a dozen of them, and not one had risen in 

 spite of the shooting and general uproar. However, they 

 rose quickly and easily enough when we began to pay special 

 attention to them. Like all Teal they fly at great speed, 

 with many of the curious twists and curls in their flight that 

 make the Etiropean bird so difficult a target. You may 

 kill with the first barrel, but at the report of the gun the 

 remainder of the fiock shoots off at aU sorts of angles, and at 

 a fine speed, and you soon reaUse that " the quickness of the 

 bird deceives the eye." 



They would make most delightful pets, and would look 

 very well in a collection of ornamental water-fowl, but up to 

 the present I do not think they have been brought to Europe 

 alive. 



Eggs in the British Museum, obtained by Anderson in 

 Ovampoland are described as oval in shape, moderately 

 glossy, and of a pale cream-colour. They measure 1.7 by 

 1.3 in. 



138 



