92 



The Natuealist. 



steps and parlour windows. The birds, I reiterate, are lovely, but — if 

 you will excuse paradox — they have not British voices. The flowers, 

 too, are gorgeously grand, but they mostly lack the delicious meadow- 

 scent or fragrant freshness which Britons love. Following a line of 

 thought adopted through past days of youthful folly, I naturally 

 concluded that existences apparently essential in one part of the globe 

 may he represented hy substitutes in another part. Whether the economy 

 of life corresponds I am in no position here to discuss, but merely ask 

 — Does any South African bird resemble our British sky-lark, thrush, 

 or robin 1 And here I quote the authority of Mr. Bussell Hallack, 

 whose name is not unknown at home, and whose kind assistance to all 

 enquirers is proverbial. I am proud to introduce him, to my York- 

 shire friends, for as an original thinker and accurate observer he has 

 few rivals, and possesses a pair of the hardiest legs in existence, forty- 

 mile constitutionals acting upon him as sips to the tippler, viz. — thirst 

 for more. 



The nearest approach to the sky-lark is MegalopJionis apiatus. Rising 

 some twenty or thirty feet into the air, it makes a sharp cracking 

 sound with its wings, and utters a long shrill piercing " phew," then 

 descends suddenly to the ground. Commencing early in the morning 

 before sunrise, Apiatus continues these curious antics until dusk. To 

 replace the song-thrush we have Petrocincla rupestris, or rock thrush, 

 which makes a house beneath stones or favourable rocks, and deposits 

 its eggs in a nest composed of fine roots and hair, quite different from 

 the clay-plastered nest of an English thrush, and utters a sharp note 

 much weaker in effect than that of the latter. The Cape robin, Bess- 

 monius phosnicina, frequents town residences and gardens, and does not 

 much resemble our pert old redbreast, though exhibiting a similar 

 wing-droop and tail movement, and uttering a note akin to that of its 

 English cousin. The Cape canary, Fringilla Capensis, is sure to please 

 new residents in the Colony ; also our common fink, Kyphaidorius 

 Capensis. This polygamous old gentleman in a consequential manner 

 pays us a very fussy visit as an inspector of garden premises. If he 

 discovers a favourable tree for household purposes, he starts business 

 as an archilect and builder, issues information to his various wives, 

 provides nests, and, presto ! a second Salt Lake City is founded. Mr. 

 Hallack's garden was inspected in this manner, and upon the site^ 

 selected a cock finch runs up no fewer than seven nests for his spouses. 

 Five hens have taken possession, feathered their nests, and several are 

 blessed with eggs, or infant finks. 



(To he continued.) 



