THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. II3 



Northern portion of the Cape Colony, the borders of Natal, Zulu- 

 land, and the Orange Free State, but is quite common in the 

 Transvaal, Bechuanaland, and Damaraland, its range extending to 

 the Zambesi. Its most favourite haunts are flats which at one time 

 have been under cultivation, as well as in bare open plains which are 

 dotted over with low mimosa bush. It is named the Gum Paauw 

 on account of its predilection for the gum which flows from most 

 varieties of the acacia, but it is not particular as to diet, for in 

 addition to seeds, locusts (on which it grows excessively fat), beetles, 

 and other insects, it has no objection whatever to an occasional 

 lizard or small snake. It is nearly always found in pairs, and chooses 

 its feeding time in the morning and evening hours, lying down 

 during the heat of the day in the cover of some shady bush. 

 Although contrary to the statements of some naturalists, it is never- 

 theless an undoubted fact that these birds during some of the winter 

 months very often congregate together in flocks numbering as many 

 as twenty. This was particularly observed on several occasions last 

 year in British Bechuanaland, and as there were not any locusts in 

 the vicinity at the time, it is difficult to account for this unusual 

 circumstance. 



The Paauw varies considerably in size, the average weight of the 

 adult male being about 20 lbs., but it is not by any means unusual 

 to obtain specimens that turn the scale at 30 lbs., and reliable 

 authorities mention having seen them exceed 50 lbs. The species is 

 voiceless. Although presenting no very difficult mark for a rifle 

 bullet, when feeding on the open flats the Kori is a very shy and 

 difficult bird to approach sufficiently near for the range of a shot 

 gun, and the best plan to adopt under such circumstances, if on 

 horseback, is to ride slowly round at a distance of a couple of 

 hundred yards from the bird and gradually narrow the circle. If 

 this tactic is adopted, it will, like most others of the Bustard tribe, 

 often lie down as if to escape notice, and thus a shot may be 

 obtained, although not without the expenditure of time and trouble. 

 Towards mid-day, when the sun is very hot, and when having their 

 usual siesta in the shade of some bush, they are very readily 

 approached, and taking rather a long time to get well on the wing 

 ready opportunities are offered of sending in both barrels at very 

 close quarters ; but even when riddled with buck shot, they will 

 often fly away out of sight as if uninjured. Although the stroke of 

 the wing when in flight is very slow, yet when well on the move 



