THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 131 



maritime division of the Cape Colony. Their flight is heavy and 

 slow compared with the common snipe of the British Isles, and when 

 flushed they will only fly a short distance before again returning to 

 the ground. Its flesh is equally delicious with the other varieties. 



The Southern Ostnich (Struthio australis). — Vogelstruis of 

 the Dutch ; 'Nchi of the Bechuanas. 



[Pbssessed of but two toes, the outer shorter than the inner, 

 the spoor is easily distinguished. The Ostrich of South Africa 

 is recognised as distinct from the North African species, and 

 although they vary very little in plumage, the egg shells of the 

 Cape bird will be found less rough exteriorly.] 



The supposition that there is more than one variety frequenting the 

 Kalahari or Damaraland is now generally considered to be an error 

 As is well known, the Ostrich has been successfully domesticated, 

 and Ostrich farming is carried on not alone in South Africa, but in 

 other parts of the world, the feathers from both the tame and 

 wild birds forming for many years past one of the principal articles 

 of commerce of the Cape Colony. The wild Ostrich is still 

 plentiful in portions of the Kalahari, particularly so in that stretch 

 of country lying about 100 miles Southward of Lake 'Ngami, and 

 on the Eastern confines of Namaqualand and Damaraland. It 

 is also occasionally met with in the Barkly West district. 

 Numerous flocks still roam on the great bare flats around Mababe 

 and the Makari Kari salt pans, while in Matabeleland it is found 

 in favourable localities, where not driven out by explorers. Owing 

 to its great speed— which exceeds that of any of the antelopes— and 

 the difficulty of bringing horses into the waterless tracts which it 

 frequents, at the present day it has become rather difficult to secure 

 specimens. It haunts the bare open flats, or such as are covered with 

 stunted patches of bush, in flocks of from about ten to twenty, and is 

 very often met with in the company of the Zebra and Wildebeest. 

 Being exceptionally keen sighted, stalking generally proves fruitless, 

 and the best (in fact the only) plan to adopt if mounted on coming 

 across a troop is, instead of riding straight at it, to proceed at a 

 wide angle, and as the birds when pursued will invariably start run- 

 ning in a circle, with a decent horse they can be cross-cutted, and 

 several running shots obtained. Of course, the chances are naturally 



K 2 



