I08 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



visitor to the Cape Colony. It frequents in beveys up to twelve in 

 number long rank grass valleys in the neighbourhood of temporary 

 pools, periodical watercourses, and old disused mealie and Kaffir- 

 corn fields. It is rare to flush more than one at a time, and they 

 run in and out through the long grass with great rapidity, 

 considering their size, when hard pressed lying so very close as to 

 almost allow of their being trodden upon before taking to the wing. 

 Even when assisted by a good dog, it is almost impossible to flush a 

 second time. The flesh is delicious. 



GUINKA FOIVL. 



The Crowned or Common Wild Guinea Fowl {Numida coro- 

 nata). Fig. 58, Plate XL — ( Tarantal of the Dutch ; Di-cawka 

 of the Bechuanas.) 



\_Larger in the horny crest, heavier in the body, darker in colour, 

 devoid of any white feathers in the wing, but otherwise strongly 

 resembling the domesticated birdj] 



The Wild Guinea Fowl is still preserved in many parts of the Cape 

 Colony, Natal, and the Orange Free State, and is very plentiful be- 

 tween these countries and the Zambesi. Along some of the rivers 

 in the Interior, such as the Botletle, Okavango and Crocodile, it is 

 found in enormous quantities. During the winter or dry season of 

 the year it is very gregarious, and at such periods may be met with 

 in flocks amounting to several hundreds. Although these birds in 

 the course of a single day will often wander more than twenty miles 

 in search of food, they are invariably found in the neighbourhood of 

 water, to which they always return at nightfall, selecting some high 

 and thick bush or tree for their roosting place. Their presence is 

 generally indicated by their utterance of a sharp metallic " chir-rir- 

 rir-rir-rir," which can be heard a long distance. On being disturbed, 

 the Guinea Fowl does not, as a rule, at once take to the wing, but 

 starts running at a pace so rapid that it is often necessary to ride a 

 horse at a stiff canter in order to keep on level terms with them — 

 and this notwithstanding the long rough grass and low bush. If 

 the flock can first be scattered by the aid of any sort of cur, they 

 will then tree or lie sufficiently close in the grass to be '' walked 

 up." It is then, and only then, that the assistance of a well- 

 trained sporting dog becomes valuable, and very large bags can 



