204: NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



wounded ones, and had them tamed, I never was attacked in any way by 

 them. 



I observed a peculiarity not before mentioned by any authority within 

 my reach, namely, that between the skin and muscles of the body there 

 is much air confined, which crepitates as you hold the bird. The legs 

 are very large in proportion to the size of the rest of the bird, and the 

 toes are still larger in proportion. This is characteristic of all birds 

 living principally on grasses and seeds, in the submerged savannahs of our 

 colony. The Mahooka lives entirely on seeds and portions of young 

 plants, and I never found any trace of fish in the stomach. It lays two 

 eggs, in size and colour resembling those of a goose. Its nest is made 

 from pieces of decayed grass, clumsily formed, on the high grass of the 

 savannah. 



It is not at all a shy bird, and is easily shot. When disturbed it flies 

 to the Ita palm trees, where the sportsman can easily stalk him. 



This bird is easily tamed, and when slightly wounded can be let loose 

 among poultry with every chance of living, provided there be sweet grass 

 for him to pluck. Brown has expressed his surprise that he has not 

 been domesticated like the turkey. I do not think that the flesh could 

 ever be made so delicate as that of the turkey, even under any care 

 and domestication. In the wild state it is very dark, and deficient in 

 flavour. 



Length of bird from beak to end of tail inclusive two feet; height, 

 when erect, two feet six inches. In all illustrations which I have seen 

 he is made very erect. This is a mistake, as in walking the body is kept 

 parallel with the earth. The red tuft on each shoulder u a pure myth. 

 And the same authority describes the horn as a "caruncle" — a sad mistake. 



Now sir, can you forgive me for taking up so much of your time by 

 my rambling letter. Should you suppose that my long sojourn in this 

 country, and my knowledge of the history of some portions of its natives, 

 could be made available for your little magazine, you have only to write, 

 stating which subjects would be most interesting, and I would have pleasure 

 in meeting your views. I have always been of opinion that the only mode 

 of procuring reliable histories of beasts and birds, is by securing the 

 knowledge derived from personal acquaintance with each subject. I was 

 pleased at observing this well argued in a late number of "The Naturalist," 

 and I am sure that we shall never have any history of value, until all 

 is re-written from such sources. One writer gets information at second 

 hand, which the next confirms, and thus in each history error is perpetuated. 



People in different localities are shocked by those inaccuracies, but few 

 ever take the trouble of sending the correct information. I observed lately 

 a gross error in regard to Guinea Pigs. It was stated that there were 



