And yet it bore some resemblance to a peacock, with its long heavy tail and wings speckled and ocellated in a very striking manner, and something like the "marbled" feathers that adorn the peacock's back.

It had none of the brilliant colours, however, of that proudest of birds, though it was quite as stately, and much larger and taller.

In fact, its great height and erect attitude was why Hendrik at first glance had taken it for an ostrich.

It was neither peacock nor ostrich, but belonging to a different genus from either--to the genus _Otis_ or bustard.

It was the great bustard of South Africa--the _Otis kori_--called "pauw" by the Dutch colonists, on account of its ocellated plumage and other points of resemblance to the Indian peacock.
Now Swartboy, as well as Von Bloom, knew that the pauw was one of the most delicious of fowls for the table.