366 Mr. L. M. Seth-Smith,


more toothsome than their commoner relative, which is also

considered a delicacy.


The next day another was brought me by a man who,

wiser than the majority, had set nooses and so obtained the

whole of my reward for himself, instead of having it divided

among five or six others, as in the case of the first two brought

in. Now came the question of a cage, and as I was staying in

each camp for about a week, I determined to make a big tem-

porary one at each camp, in which the bird could have plenty of

room and also perch at night ; so I sent my men out for a lot of

straight sticks, about five feet long, which were stuck into the

ground about an inch apart, enclosing an area some five or six

feet square. The top was then thatched. The whole thing took

perhaps two hours to make and was an ideal place for the bird,

with room for others if more were brought.


I afterwards simplified this by obtaining a native hunting

net some twelve yards long and eight feet high, which I put

round four corner posts, thus saving time; but I always pre-

ferred the first method as it was stronger, and I found that white

ants soon attacked the netting. At the same time I knocked

together a large box cage for carrying the bird in.


What struck me most was the wonderful tameness of this

bird, which would take food from my hand the first day, even

when in this large cage, and also its charming little chatter when

feeding, which sounded to me like " That's good — that's good."

Its method of showing annoyance was by putting its head down

close to the object which displeased it and hissing, also frequently

pecking.


The bird was slightly lame when brought in, evidently the

result of the noose by which it had been caught, but was soon

quite well again. A day or so later another was brought and I

paid for it, but I found out afterwards that this one had been

stolen from a noose set by another man, so the wrong man was

paid for it. This bird also was lame but I hoped it would soon

get all right again. They got on very well together, both being

perfectly tame and feeding well, but the second bird, a hen I

fancy, never put the lame foot to the ground always hopping

about and perching on one foot. I afterwards found that the leg.



