CHAP. IX. GAME BIRDS. 413 



however, is in no case bright, like that of the turkey, 

 though of a lighter shade in young birds, but rather a 

 dark, dull crimson, and so dark in old cocks as to nearly 

 approach to purple. It is large, and of a blue-black colour, 

 and one of its principal characteristics, in common with 

 others of the same family to which it belongs, is its bill — a 

 great serrated, crooked weapon, which it is not slow to 

 use when wounded, and with which it destroys the snakes, 

 hzards, etc., on which it lives. It is a dirty feeder, and 

 after death emits an unpleasant smell, though not to the 

 extent that is stated by Layard. It makes a loud droning 

 noise, not unlike the sound of the Kaffir-drum, which is 

 said to be an indication of wet weather, and it roosts and 

 breeds in trees, the young ones not leaving the parent 

 till the following year. The natives hold it in considerable 

 reverence, both in the Cape Colony and Natal, believing 

 it to be an unclean bird not unconnected with witchcraft, 

 and one that it is most unlucky to kill. The Government 

 of Natal, classing it with the secretary-bird as a destroyer 

 of snakes, impose a fine of five pounds on any one taking 

 its life, a needful precaution, as it is very common and 

 anything but shy, and could easily be shot by any one so 

 disposed. 



Next on the list come the partridges, and the so- 

 called pheasant; and although naturalists have discovered 

 a wonderful number of different species of them on this 

 continent — Smith, I think, mentions eleven kinds of fran- 

 colins, and five of plerocles, while Layard has ten of the 

 former and four of the latter — there are only three in 

 Eastern Africa so far distinct as to deserve separate men- 

 tion. These are the common red-legged partridge, called by 



