tlte Birch of Pldllpstown. 9 



to the viIIao;e. The spot selected was a gentle rise in the 

 middle oi" a big flat. This gave the birds a clear view in all 

 directions, and enabled them to slip away from the nest as 

 soon as anyone hove in sight. Several unsuccessful attempts 

 were made to locate the nest ; each time the bird would be 

 seen sneaking off, but it was impossible to say exactly where 

 it had risen from the ground. There were several good- 

 sized open gravelly spaces in the neighbourhood, on any one 

 of which the eggs might be lying- Recourse was eventually 

 had to strategy. Accompanied by a friend armed with a 

 pair of field-glasses a careful stalk was made to the nearest 

 point where cover could be found, a distance of 700 or 800 

 yards from the ridge. The friend then focussed the glasses 

 on the ridge while I advanced into the open, making no 

 attempt to conceal myself, and almost immediately he shouted 

 that he had seen the bird rise from the middle of one of the 

 bare patches. The rest was easy. Looking at the two eggs 

 lying on the bare ground^ it seemed ridiculous that there 

 should have been any difficulty in finding them_, and yet had 

 one not been specially searching one might have passed 

 within a foot or two without noticing them. The clutch 

 consists of two eggs. The young may often be seen following 

 their parents about the " veld." They are unable to fly 

 until almost full grown. If chased on horseback the parents 

 will endeavour, in every possible way, to draw^ the pursuer 

 away from the young, resorting to the time-worn dodges of 

 throwing themselves down on the ground, shamming lame, &c. 

 When finally overtaken, the young birds show plenty of 

 fight. These birds generally repair to some dam during the 

 evening and pass the night standing in the water, probably 

 as a safeguard against surprise attacks by wild cats or other 

 carnivora. This habit is carried to ridiculous lengths in the 

 case of the young. Some friends of mine who had a pair 

 informed me that one used invariably to sleep at night 

 standing in a small dish which contained tlieir supply of 

 drinking-water. If caught young the Blue Crane is easily 

 tamed and makes an interesting pet. 



" Paauw " are very numerous during the summer months, 



