Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-06-21
BOBBY.
Stories o: a Bright and Comical
African Pet.


African Pet
The birds and animals, Indigenous
to South Africa are nearly all delight
full pets. They have the quaintest and
most amusing ways, and become at
once affectionate and companionable.
1t is surprising to find how quickly a
creature which only few days before
was torn suddenly from nest or bur-
row, and abruptly turned out from a
Hottentot's pocket into human home,
becomes an intimate friend, with
clearly-marked individual character
istics, most interesting to study, and
quite different from those of all it's
companions, even of the same species
On one point. however, the whole
menagerie is sure to be alike. and that
is in strong feeling of rivalry and
jealousy of one another each striving
to attract as much attention as possi-
BILE.
Ofall the strange birds and beasts COL
lected together on the ostrich farm. of
which we spoke some time ago. Bobby.
the crow, was perhaps, on the whole the
greatest favorite. He was black imp
of mischief. who destroyed the vege-
tables, stole the eggs, killed the chick
ems and did his best to pull down the
house; but. just as amongst the human
race the characters we love best are
not always those with the fewest faults.
SO poor Bobby. full of imperfections as
he was, possessed so many lovable
qualities that his failings were re-
deemed by his virtues, talents and de-
votion. Our first acquaintance began
when he was reddish-brown egg, w.
ing on fiat untidy bundle of sticks
in one of the few and far between trees
on the Kilplaat road. We kept an
eye on the nest. watching the progress
of the young bird through successive
stages of repulsive ugliness. until, as
a hair-fledged. staggering creature,
ungainly in figure. and only partially
covered with stiff, black quilts, we
took him home in triumph.
At this time Bobby's principal char
acteristic was Unsuitable hunger. If
any one passed near his basket up he
would shoot like jack-in-the-box.
opening wide red throat and shout
ing defiantly for more porridge. even
Immediately after a hearty meal. Soon
he refused to remain during the day in
his basket tumbling out head fore
nost and hobbling about the kitchen.
When he had acquired the use of his
limbs, Bobby followed us about like
dog, and seemed to think his superin-
tendence was necessary whenever any
work was going on, for he never failed
to see the ostriches fed, the rations
given out or the washing done. Some
times n sudden thought seemed to
strike him. and he would begin whis-
pering confidentially and eagerly what
had come into his mind. He loved to
go out riding. and would sit on his
masters sun-helmet. balancing him.
self with his great black wings. and
reminding one of the raven crests of
some ancient Scandinavian warrior.
Suddenly he would dart after one of
those great gaudy locusts. which look
like painted toys, and having captured
it. return to his place to enjoy the
dainty mOrsel.
Every morning Bobby awakened his
master by \ few gentle pecks and. then
departed on his rounds out side. He
would perch on the wire fence and
begin to practice all the noises he
could remember of fowls, donkeys or
dogs. or hold long conversations with
himself of which profane language
seemed to constitute the greater part.
At meals his curiosity was boundless;
he wanted to taste every thing. and
the gestures and expression told as dis
tinctiy his opinion of the different
viands as any language could have
done. He knew his name, and would
come at once when called. and no fear
of danger would nave prevented him
following his master through fire or
water.
As Bobby grew older a porridge diet
was no longer to his taste, and he be-
gan to pick up a dishonest livelihood
in the poultry-yard. He would fly to
meet us in the morning and perch on
our shoulder with an impudent assump-
ton of innocence. quite unconscious
that the yellow sickness of his bill
revealed that he mad been breakfasting
On newly-laid eggs Then he took to
eating the young chickens, and here
his talent for miplicry provided him
with many delicate meal; for he
could initiate the maternal cali Of