CHAP. III.] 
BIRDS RUIN THE DONKEYS. 
] 13 
attacked by a bird, about tlie size of a thrush, which 
caused them great uneasiness. This bird is a greenish- 
brown colour, with a powerful red beak, and excessively 
strong claws. It is a perfect pest to the animals, and 
positively eats them into holes. The original obj ect of 
the bird in settling upon the animal is to search for 
vermin, but it is not contented with the mere 
insects, and industriously pecks holes in all parts of 
the animal, more especially on the back. A wound 
once established, adds to the attraction, and the 
unfortunate animal is so pestered that it has no time 
to eat. I was obliged to hire little boys to watch the 
donkeys, and to drive off these plagues ; but so deter¬ 
mined and bold were the birds, that I have constantly 
seen them run under the body of the donkey, clinging 
to the belly with their feet, and thus retreating to the 
opposite side of the animal when chased by the watch- 
boys. In a few days my animals were full of wounds, 
excepting the horses, whose long tails were effectual 
whisks. Although the temperature was high, 95° Falir., 
the wind was frequently cold at about three o’clock in 
the morning, and one of my horses, “ Priest,” that I 
had lately purchased of the Mission, became paralysed, 
and could not rise from the ground. After several 
days’ endeavours to cure him, I was obliged to shoot 
him, as the poor animal could not eat. 
VOL. i. i 
