1812. 
THE FISCAL-BIRD. — THE VARIEGATED GROUSE. 
345 
all their rations of tobacco were exhausted, and that not a pipe had 
been smoked since yesterday morning ! From the ill-foreboding 
state of mind which appearances had occasioned me, it may easily 
be imagined that this was an agreeable discovery ; and although their 
rations would not be due till the Monday following, I gladly infringed 
the regulations, and gave each an extra piece enough to last till that 
day : and finding by their representations, that a larger weekly supply, 
would add greatly to their comfort, I promised for the future, to in- 
crease their rations by two inches more. Such are highly important 
affairs, when we have to deal with Hottentots. 
Immediately, their voices were heard again ; and loud talking, 
laughing, joking, whistling, and fiddling, enlivened our home once 
more. 
Various sorts of hwds were found to inhabit these groves, and 
frequent the fountains ; but all excepting two, were already in my col- 
lection. A species of Lanius*, or Butcher-bird, was now shot for the 
first time, though probably to be found within the Colony. Several 
kinds of Lanius, especially those having a plumage in which black 
and white are the predominant colors, are called Fiscaal-vogels (Fiscal- 
bird) by the colonists. Their notes are very loud and powerful, and 
their sound has the nature of a whistle rather than of a bird's singing. 
The Bachapins call them by the name of Lekokko. 
I here also added to my collection, a small and very pretty 
species of grouse^ and, I believe, hitherto undescribed. -\ It ap- 
peared to have a great affinity to the little ' Namaqua grouse but 
its feet were furnished with only three toes, and it had not the two 
long acute tail-feathers which distinguish that sort. The upper parts 
of its body were variegated with white, brown, yellow, and black ; 
* Very much resembling Lanius collaris, from which it appeared to vary only by a 
white mark over each eye. 
f Tetrao {JPterodes) variegatus, B. Supra albo, fusco, flavo, nigroque, varius : subtus 
ferrugineus, Remiges nigrae, rachidibus albis. Cauda brevis aequalis, cum dorse con- 
color. Pedes lanuginosi ochracei, tridactyli, digitis longitudinaliter auctis. Unques nigri. 
Irides angustae ochraceae. Lingua brevis acuminata. Sexus vestitu non dignoscendi. 
VOL. II. Y Y 
