Il6 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



portion of wings traversely marked with alternate waves of dark 

 brown and rich yellow ; a white collar round base of the hack of 

 neck; shoulders of wing white ; quills jet black; bill, legs, and feet 

 bright orange.] 



In conjunction with the following species this is the commonest of 

 not alone the Bustard tribe but of all the game birds met with in 

 South Africa. It is still very plentiful throughout the Cape Colony, 

 but after passing the Orange River its place is gradually taken by the 

 White-quilled variety (O. afroides), and seldom ranges Northward 

 of the Molopo River in Bechuanaland. Although properly termed a 

 solitary bird, when one is discovered others are almost sure to make 

 their objectionable voices heard in the vicinity. On the approach 

 of an intruder, the cock bird, instead of attempting concealment, 

 at once makes his presence known ; and perhaps the most familiar 

 sound which is constantly dinned into the ears of the traveller 

 in South Africa is the grating and mocking "go-back, go-back, 

 foot-sack, foot-sack " of the " quarrelling cock." This cry is made 

 by the bird when stationary, and at a distance of complete safety 

 from the object of its alarm. Should an approach be made to a 

 distance at which the Khoorhan might consider his personal safety 

 in jeopardy, he immediately springs into the air, and flying round 

 just out of range, keeps letting off volumes of direful imprecations on 

 the devoted head of his pursuer. The female, on the contrary, is 

 quite of a retiring disposition, extremely difficult to flush, and When 

 wounded or in danger usually seeks refuge in some adjacent ant-bear 

 or meercat hole. It is generally in a disused burrow of the latter 

 animal where she lays and hatches her eggs. She is voiceless. 



It may be concluded from the above remarks that on bare open 

 flats the Khoorhan is a very difficult bird to get at, but as they are 

 also well disposed to frequent districts in which there is plenty of 

 cover, large bags can be made, but, strange to say, of every ten 

 birds shot there is usually only about one hen obtained. Although 

 the movement of the wing in flight is quick, the bird's progress is 

 not by any means rapid, and after being flushed it usually rests again 

 at a short distance. Their mode of alighting on the ground is some- 

 what peculiar, for instead of coming down in the ordinary manner of 

 birds they descend perpendicularly, at the same time extending the 

 feet forward as if feeling the way. Although this Bustard affords 

 fairly good sport, and has the advantage of being met with in parts 



