A SPORTING SAUNTER. 145 



laughter at these absurd avi-faunal junkettings and 

 philanderings. 



Another long-legged bird — the violet stork — is very 

 occasionally to be seen in this neighbourhood. This 

 bird, the Ardea nigra of Linnaeus, is much more 

 remarkable in colouring than the slate-coloured, 

 blue-black crane I have mentioned. A specimen 

 of this fine stork was shot at Riet Fontien far out on 

 the dry karroo, strangely enough ; and its skin, 

 which I brought home for a brother of the shooter, 

 was very beautiful in its strangely metallic sheen. 

 The general colour of the violet stork is a dark 

 shining green-brown ; the metallic lustre is very 

 remarkable ; the under parts and thighs are snow- 

 white ; the bill, which this bird uses very freely in its 

 defence, is red, as also are the long legs. Before 

 reaching home, I shot near the water a blue gallinule 

 [Porphyria erythropus), a handsome green and 

 purple-hued bird, having legs and bill of brightest 

 red. This member of the family of rallidse (rails), 

 is to be found near rivers and valleys all over the 

 Colony. Finally, I gain the cool stoep of the 

 farmhouse — now pleasantly shaded from the sun — 

 well content with my quiet ramble in search of 

 sport, and my modest bag, and in a fit state for 

 war upon the supper, not long hence to appear. 



10 



