THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 1 23 



This beautiful little goose is stated to be an occasional visitor to some 

 parts of the Cape Colony and Natal, but it is seldom met with in the 

 Transvaal. A pair were shot on the Molopo River, close to Mafeking, 

 three years ago. About Lake 'Ngami* and along the Okavango, 

 Botletle and Zambesi Rivers it is quite common, and is generally 

 found in flocks of about half-a-dozen, frequenting some still and 

 retired nook overhung by trees. The flesh is rather tough and 

 oily. 



The Knob-billed or Spur-winged Duck {Sarcidiornis afri- 

 cana). Fig. 64, Plate XII. 



\_Specimens have been obtained measuring 27 inches in length. 

 This peculiar species of Duck very much resembles the Spur-winged 

 Goose not alone in colour^ but also in the presence of less developed 

 spurs on each wing. The back, however, approaches more to brown 

 than black, the coppery tinge being more distinct, while the wings 

 are of a brighter green ; the white of the head and neck spotted 

 distinctly with Mack; a flat india-rubber-like knob ornamenting the 

 uppzr mandible of the drakis, and sometimes those of the fully 

 matured ducks.'\ 



The Knob-billed Duck is nowhere common, and does not appear to 

 be knofrn South of the Orange River. It is occasionally met with 

 in the Transvaal and Damaraland after heavy rains, but is more 

 plentiful in portions of Matabeleland and in the Lake 'Ngami, Chobe 

 and Zambesi regions. The first place on the Northern road to the 

 Interior in which it has been known to breed and continually 

 frequent is a chain of small, dense, reedy vleys, formed by the 

 Taungs River in the Kanya Country, Bechuanaland Protectorate, 

 about ten miles from the Chief Maghosi's town. When observed it 

 is usually in large flocks, often amounting to thirty and forty in 

 number. The manner of flight is in the form of a V, while the slow 

 stroke of the wing, shape of the body, and length of legs and neck, 

 bear a greater resemblance in every way to a Goose than a Duck, for 

 which reason it is commonly, although perhaps erroneously, called 

 the " Knob-billed Goose " by Colonials ; and when, in addition, its 



Mr. Nicoll's natire servants caught two Geese of this description with a fish net 

 near Moremi's old station at De-nokane, North of Lake 'Ngami, but all efforts to 

 preserve them alive proved fruitless. They have, however, been admirably mounted 

 by Messrs. Bowland Ward. 



