CHAP. ix. GAME BIRDS. 421 



are as difficult a bird to shoot as I know, but are better 

 eating than any of the true doves or pigeons, and are 

 undoubtedly one of the handsomest birds in Africa. 



There are still three birds remaining, which, though 

 they cannot be classed among game as, indeed, neither 

 pigeons nor paroquets can deserve mention from their 

 value for the table. The first is a goat-sucker (Capri- 

 mulgus Natalensis), the native name being " Isavolo," of 

 which the curious may find a most minutely correct plate 

 in Smith's Illustrations of the Natural History of South 

 Africa. Both in plumage and size, as well as in its mode 

 of flying, it strongly resembles the woodcock, though 

 when we approach the head the likeness ceases, its mouth 

 being nearly as large and broad as the woodcock's bill is 

 long, and being as applicable to its employment of catching 

 flies as the latter is for boring into the ground. It was 

 mere accident that taught me what a delicious bird it was. 

 I had shot one when on my way home one evening, more 

 out of curiosity to look at it than anything else, and it 

 was taken in and sent up to dinner, and I then made the 

 discovery, and never afterwards lost an opportunity of 

 getting one. They are absolute pats of butter, sometimes 

 even bursting in falling to the ground, and are, in my 

 opinion, equal if not superior to any woodcock. They 

 feed on flies and moths, which they catch at and after 

 twilight, and, unless disturbed, are rarely seen during the 

 day. According to Kaffir superstition, they are unclean 

 birds, employed by witches for evil deeds, and are avoided 

 accordingly, and the native shudders as he hears their 

 soft and pleasant call in the twilight, which consists of a 

 succession of sounds that he renders into " Come, come, 

 come, and milk for my children," and into an invitation to 



