OUR LITTLE HOME. 63 



sional difference of opinion between two quarrelsome 

 birds eager to fight, craning their snake-like necks, 

 hissing savagely, and " lifting up themselves on high," 

 but unable, owing to the closeness with which they 

 are packed, to do each other any injury ; and the real 

 or fancied approach of a dog causes a sudden panic 

 and general stampede of the silly birds into one corner 

 of the kraal, threatening to break down its not very 

 substantial hedge of dry bush one commotion scarcely 

 having time to subside before another arises. 



And through it all, T , Mr. B , and our Kaffirs 



are calmly going in and out among the struggling 

 throng ; all hard at work, the two former steadily and 

 methodically operating with their shears on each bird 

 as in its turn it is tugged along, like a victim to the 

 sacrifice, by three men ; two holding its wings, and the 

 third dragging at its long neck till one fears that with 

 all its kicks, plunges, tumbles, and sudden wild leaps 

 into the air, its flat, brainless little head will be pulled 

 off*. One extra-refractory bird, when finally subdued, 

 and helpless in the hands of the pluckers, avenges his 

 wrongs upon the ostrich standing nearest to him in the 

 crowd ; and, for every feather pulled from his own 

 tail, gives a savage nip to the head of his unoffending 

 neighbour, a mild bird, who does not retaliate, but 

 looks puzzled, his own turn not yet having come. It is 

 amusing to watch the rapid retreat of each .poor 

 denuded creature when set free from his tormentors. 

 He goes out at the gate looking crestfallen indeed, but 

 apparently much relieved to find himself still alive. 



