AFRICA. 291 
my eftate after a long bamfliment. The dogs 
I had left behind knew me. They jumped 
about me with eagernefs, and beftowed on me 
a thoufand carefles. 
On fuch occafions the mereft trifles afford 
pleafure. During my abfence, Swanepoel 
had fuffered the hen to fit upon her eggs, and 
fhe had now fixteen chickens of a tolerable 
fize. The dogs I brought with me, not being 
ufed to thefe birds, fprung on them, and 
killed three at the firfl: onfet. The hen, and, 
which was furprifing, the cock alfo, engaged 
in defence of the brood, which gave us time to 
come to their affiftance. In our poultry yards 
we never fee cocks in fuch cafes defend their 
hens, and flill lefs do they concern themfelves 
about the chickens : was it then that mine, 
having but one female, was naturally more at- 
tached to her, and, for the fame reafon, never 
having feen any other cock carefs his com- 
panion, loved her the more, and was more 
fond of her young ? Be that as it may, we ob- 
ferve all wild birds in general, and which have 
but one female, obftinately defend her, and 
take the greateft care of their young ; while in 
the domeftic ftate, in which we leave a num- 
U 2 ber 
