GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



old, in very rough plumage, and about the size of Red-legged 

 Partridges, only of course longer in the leg. 



From the moment that I took them out of the little 

 crate in which they had been brought to market, they proved 

 themselves to be most extraordinarily tame, following my 

 wife and me about the garden from the very first, with a 

 loud querulous cry like that of a young kitten. 



From the first they fed better from the hand than in 

 any other way. Their appetite was delicate, and I am con- 

 vinced that if they had not constantly been coaxed into 

 accepting their food they would not have lived many 

 months. 



The blue colour on both of these birds was verj^ pale 

 at this time, and their legs were of a greyish colour ; the 

 female was slightly smaller than the male, and her face and 

 eyebrows were distinctly browner than those of her mate. 

 It was quite evident that they had been reared by some 

 woman on a farm, and they had rather a fascinating trick 

 of sitting down on the edge of a skirt whenever they got 

 the chance. The hen was particularly fond of doing this, 

 and always crooned a little song to herself when she was 

 comfortably settled. They loved sharpening their beaks on 

 one's boots, and visitors had always to be warned not to 

 tread on them, as they were always at one's feet, investigating 

 boot-laces. 



We built a large run for them, with a nice house in the 

 middle. This latter they inhabited at night, and it was 

 no easy matter for the Kaffir to drive them in every evening. 

 They defied him, and mocked him in every way, spreading 

 their wings and skipping about on their agile little legs until 

 the distracted Kaffir — who was not allowed to touch them — 

 had very often to call for assistance. 



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