A F R I C A. 367 
fat by her fide. This made me Imagine that 
fometimes, and perhaps when the nights arc 
rainy or cold, two or more unite together to 
cover the eggs the better. When the fun was 
nearly about to fet, a male arrived, and ap- 
proached the neft In order to place himfelf on 
it ; for the males fit as well as the females. As 
I had now the opportunity I wifhed for, I 
difcharged my piece and killed him on the 
fpot ; upon which the reft, frightened by the 
noife of the report, ftarted up, and in their 
confufion broke feveral of the eggs. On going 
up to the neft, I perceived, with much regret, 
that the young had been juft ready to bur ft 
the ftiell, for they were entirely covered with 
down. The male which I killed had not 
one beautiful white feather ; they were all al- 
ready ftripped, and become quite dirty. I 
however picked out fuch of the black ones as 
appeared to be moft entire, and quitting the 
place, I detached feveral of my Hottentots to 
fearch for the thirteen eggs which were fcat- 
tered around the neft, ftridly enjoining them 
not to touch the reft. Being defirous to know 
whether the females would return in the night- 
time, I repaired to the neft at day-break ; but 
I found every thing fwept away from the 
placCj 
