round the eyes, bare, black ; legs black. Length, 2' 6"; wing, 15-|";
tail, 7".
Fig. Cory, Beautiful and Curious Birds, part vii.
714. G eronticus calvus (Bodd.). Bald Ibis.
The Wilde Kalkoen (wild-turkey) of Dutch colonists is not rare
on the eastern frontier; but seldom appears to the westward. We
are told it is a very foul feeder, frequenting the neighbourhood of
native villages, and acting the part of scavenger. It thrives well in
confinement, and becomes very tame. One in the possession of His
Excellency Sir George Grey was at large in the Government Gardens;
he walked with great rapidity, and was always seeking for food,
probing the ground with his long curved bill, and drawing thence
the large earth-worms, which he swallowed at a gulp. Mr. Albert
Vigne shot a fine female at Tygerhoek, on the River Zonder End,
near Caledon, in February, 1866. Mr. Ortlepp says, “ Specimens
that I have shot had their stomachs filled with caterpillars and
beetles; it breeds in cliffs.5'’ Mr. Ayres gives the following note
from Natal: “ These birds feed entirely on insects, principally
beetles. They frequent the open country, and are invariably to be
found on land from which the grass has been burnt; they live
principally inland, where they are very numerous, but gradually
approach the coast during the winter months. I have not seen them
nearer the sea than eight or ten miles; they are exceedingly wary,
and it is a difficult matter to get within shot of them, as they generally
prefer the bare open plains, without cover, to feed on : they walk
about very fast, and are constantly on the move from morning till
night. I imagine they must eat a great quantity of food, for they
are always in search it—not resting now and then, as all reasonable
birds do; they seem to have no time at all for amusement.55 Majors
Butler and Feilden and Capt. Reid write as follows: “We were
somewhat astonished to hear that wild Turkeys were to be found in
the country on our first arrival, and equally astonished to find out
what was intended by the same. They are not uncommon near
Newcastle, several specimens being obtained in the winter. Reid
shot a lovely one at the Ingagane on the 7th July, and saw others
there; he also observed them, paired, at Rorke’s Drift on the 3rd
October. They breed on the steep banks of the Buffalo or its
tributaries in this neighbourhood, as Butler heard of several nests,
some with eggs and others containing young birds ; but we had no
opportunity of examining the nests ourselves. Butler adds that
he found them very good eating.55 Mr. Andersson says that he
procured it on the Orange River, but it did not occur in his Damara
collections.
General colour throughout, shining-green, glossed with purple,
with a patch of rich golden-copper on each shoulder; head, and
portion of the neck, bare, and of a greenish white, the top of the
head bright red ; as are also the bill and legs. Length, 2' 6";
wing, 16"; tail, 8 |" ; bill, 5" 6"'.
715. H ageda shia h agedash (Lath.). Hadadah Ibis.
Geronticus Hagedash, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 320.
The Hadadah (so called from its cry of “ Ha-ha-hadadah !55) is
only found in wooded places, such as the Knysna', where it is not
uncommon, associating in small flocks, and making the wooded
streams resound with its loud and not unmusical call. It feeds on
worms and small crustaceans, which it finds in the shallows and
muddy creeks. Mr. Chapman procured it at the Zambesi. It is
everywhere very shy, and difficult to procure, the best way being to
watch their roosting-place, to which they nightly repair, and where
several may be obtained from an ambuscade by a successful discharge.
Mr. Rickard says it is migratory, “ generally arriving at East
London in March ; in 1870 they were later than usual.55 We were not
able to ascertain, but suspect that it was only a partial migration.
Mr. Ayres writes from Natal: “ These birds are seldom solitary,
generally occurring in small families of from four to ten or twelve.
When feeding they much frequent the dense bush, and though
usually very wary, will sometimes allow one to walk right in amongst
them before they rise, which they then do altogether, and with such
a din as quite to startle even a person accustomed to such things.
Beetles and insects form their food almost entirely. They are also
fond of hunting in old mealy-gardens, and on the tops of high hills
and amongst stones and rocks, where they find food in abundance.
Their notes are loud and harsh, and may easily be heard at the
distance of a mile or more in still weather. At the earliest break of
day they leave their roosting-places, generally in high trees overhanging
water, and return again as the sun is setting, or a little
3 b 2