GRAKLE. 159 



many white Varieties, of other Species, which have hitherto been 

 esteemed as old birds, are probably no other than young ones, not 

 yet arrived at maturity. 



These are met with sometimes in vast flocks from the borders of 

 the Gamtoos to Caffre-land, and attend Buffaloes, and other animals, 

 for the sake of what they can pick out of their excrements ; they will 

 also feed on berries, fruits, and every thing to be collected from the 

 moist grounds, which they frequent in preference. 



Among the drawings of Gen. Da vies, copied from those belonging 

 to Col. Gordon, Commandant of the Cape of Good Hope, this bird 

 is figured in apparently three different stages of life ; in the first, 

 which measures nine inches in length, the crown is surmounted with 

 a large crest in shape of crescent, of a black colour, and passing on 

 each side round the eyes, finishes in a double elongated wattle, 

 tending to a point ; the rest of the head bare, brownish buff-colour, 

 a little carunculated ; the general colour of the plumage above, pale 

 brownish buff, beneath white, the lesser wing coverts like the back ; 

 then follows an irregular, broad white band, the rest of the wing 

 black ; the tail long, and black. 



In a second, the head seems bare, and with a double wattle 

 beneath, but much shorter, and instead of a continued lunated crest, 

 are two distinct ones above each eye, and bifid on the top. This is 

 perhaps a young male. 



In a third, which is probably the female, there is a single, small 

 crest, indented at top, just rising above the forehead, and a double, 

 narrow, elongated wattle, taking rise between the bill and eye ; the 

 top of the head covered with short down, scarcely bare. 



The above are known at the Cape of Good Hope, by the name 

 of Washerwomen, probably from being seen near water. I observe, 

 too, that the crest and wattles, in all of them, are of a full black, 

 by no means inclining to red. 



