XXX 
GAME BIRDS FOR SPORT AND POT 301 
with birds which were sitting side by side in hundreds 
of thousands. As we emerged the whole ground 
seemed to rise with one roar and plunge towards the 
stream. The morning will ever remain to me a very 
vivid recollection. 
The bridled sandgrouse is smaller than the last- 
named, to which its habitat appears somewhat similar ; 
though I do not know that this variety exists in Juba- 
land, and it also extends further towards the north. 
I have had twenty minutes or so very pretty sport 
with these birds at Larsamis and also at Merille in the 
desert country towards Marsabit. They appeared 
suddenly in thousands just as it was getting dark, and 
in the dusk were very difficult to account for. 
The chestnut-vented sandgrouse is much larger than 
the other varieties, being about as large as an English 
partridge. According to Mr. F. J. Jackson, by far the 
most eminent ornithologist who has ever been in the 
Protectorate, the species range from Kilima-njaro 
northwards to Nairobi. I recall pretty sport with this 
bird on the Tana river in 1906. 
The close-barred sandgrouse is very rare south 
of the Turkwell river, where it is common. 
In addition to the splendid sport they afford the 
sandgrouse is excellent for the table, though, from its 
dryness, apt to pall after a while. Native porters, 
more especially Wanyamwezi, eat them with avidity. 
It is unfortunate that, for the most part, their favourite 
haunts are rather remote from civilisation. 
The Pigeon , though not technically a game bird, is, 
like his cousin in England, capable of providing 
excellent sport. There are a considerable number of 
varieties, but the two which are usually bagged are the 
green pigeon and the large spotted variety with a 
