112 BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



hills. The birds spend a lot of time in 

 finishing the nest ; often a whole fortnight 

 is spent on the lining alone, and a very 

 cosy and comfortable nest is made. 



The eggs vary in number. It is quite 

 a common occurrence to find two and 

 three. On one occasion I found a nest 

 with a clutch of seven, but four is the 

 usual number. The male bird keeps a 

 careful watch over his sitting mate. One 

 nest that I know of is on the face of a 

 great sloping rock, and the male bird 

 may often be seen from a distance of a 

 mile, sitting on a prominent rock against 

 the sky-line. If we keep to the valley 

 he will remain there, but if we should 

 attempt to climb up to his home, then 

 he gives a warning krraak, krraak, and 

 the hen is seen, by those who know the 

 exact locality of the nest, to slip off her 

 eggs, and fly close in to the rocks for a 

 hundred yards or more before showing 

 herself. The nest is often cunningly 



