Walter Goodfellow—Some Reminiscences of a Collector 189


moment Kitty had spotted that bright golden coin and had swallowed

it before I could stop her. In this case, the only thing to do was to

shut her up in an empty room until it was recovered.


In due course after many adventures Kitty arrived home and

went straight to Hoddam Castle, Dumfries. Here at once she

established herself a prime favourite for several years. She had

palatial quarters, but during the day was allowed the freedom of a

considerable part of the grounds. I am sorry to relate though, as

she increased in size and strength she began to make herself objection¬

able to the gardeners. It was no doubt all done in play, but several

times she ripped up (or rather down) their trousers, and more or less

severely scratched them ; so she had to be confined to her quarters

which made her temper altogether worse, but with her owner she was

always affection itself.


One day before this time she was found missing, and telephone

messages were sent to the police stations around. It was not long

before reports began to come in from districts she had passed through,

but all seemed afraid to capture her. On the second day she was

reported to be 18 miles away and then lost sight of again. On

the third day, a tired dust-covered Kitty was seen approaching the

castle, almost too tired to go any farther, but when she saw her owner

she put on a spurt and sank down at his feet evidently very glad to be

home again. This speaks volumes for her intelligence that she was

able to find her way back again. Shortly after this her career ended

at Hoddam, and she was presented to Kegent’s Park where she lived

until she caught a cold and died.


It was a Painted-necked Cassowary ( C . 'picticollis) , one of the

smaller mountain species, rare as a living bird in captivity.


Once in another part of New Guinea I came suddenly upon a very

large full-grown bird (C. sclateri) idly pecking about in the pebbly

bed of a wide dried-up river. It was well out in the middle when it

saw me, and the tactics it adopted were somewhat curious. Instead

of at once making a dash for the tree-lined banks, it pretended to be

quite unconcerned and went on pecking about, but gradually making

for the shelter of some rocks. As soon as it reached them it took to

its heels and was gone like a flash. In the brilliant sunlight it looked



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