HOW WE FARED. 227 



Of partridges there are two kinds, the red-wing and 

 grey-wing, the latter being found only on the moun- 

 tains. The beautiful little "Namaqua partridges," 

 which come in flights, are in reality a kind of grouse. 

 It is a pretty sight when, at sundown, these neatest and 

 most delicately-plumaged of little birds collect in large 

 numbers to drink at the dams. 



Of some of our queer dishes, such as consomme 

 d'autruche and the mock-turtle afforded by the gigan- 

 tic tortoises of the veldt, I have already spoken. Now 

 and then, too, when a porcupine was killed, we would 

 follow the example of the Algerian Arabs, and dine 

 sumptuously off its flesh, which was not unlike English 

 pork with extra-good crackling. 



A baby porcupine, which was taken alive and un- 

 hurt, was for some weeks an amusing addition to the 

 menagerie ; and many were our regrets when just as 

 he was getting tame and friendly he fell a victim to 

 an unexpected cold night, against which, in his little 

 box out of doors, we had ignorantly left him insuffi- 

 ciently protected. At first his temper, which was 

 decidedly of the kind usually described as "short," 

 gave us much amusement ; and, when irritated by our 

 approach, he would stamp his little feet, wheel round 

 impetuously, and come charging at us backwards, with 

 all his quills erect, and an absurd expression of ener- 

 getic pugnacity depicted, not only on his small, snub- 

 nosed countenance, but throughout the whole of his 

 bristling body. 



Unfortunately, "the pig with the sticks on his back," 



