mutton & Cuthbert sketches

27^th October 1983, Biesjiesfontein.  Cuthbert the crow accepted his change of environment quite philosophically.  No sooner had we put him in his new box than he cast up a pellet.  It contained mainly beetle elytra, wool or vegetation and some sizeable stones – rangle as the falconers call it.  He begged for food immediately and I gave him five bits of hare with Calsuba powder.  He shut up almost instantly when he had had enough.  His croaking is more melodious than the Carrion Crows back home.  He preened on his elbows and then stood right up and stretched and warbled (raised his wings above his head).