Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/169

Rh ancient books on South African hunting. In the foreground were some Grant's Gazelles and a large Grevy's Zebra; the bush seemed full of vulturine Guinea-fowls and Francolins; 'paa' (kirkii) were everywhere, and here and there one caught sight of a walleri or two making off, while small birds were in clouds. All the teeming life in this oasis was due to the life-giving moisture from the little stream." It is to be hoped that this fauna may not as rapidly share the fate of that of the more southern region.

The author considers that the neighbourhood of the small lake, called by the natives "Kisima" and situated south of Lake Rudolph, is the extreme northern limit of Gazella thomsoni and Bubalis jacksoni, and that the Lorogi Mountains "here form a distinct line of demarcation in the geographical distribution of certain species."

Among the birds common to the shores of Lake Rudolph is the Large Crested Pauw (Eupodotis kori), in connection with which Mr. Neumann records an interesting observation. The Rosy Bee-eater (Merops nubicus) has the habit of riding on the back of the Pauw. "It sits far back, on the rump of its mount, as a boy rides a donkey. The Pauw does not seem to resent this liberty, but stalks majestically along, while its brilliantly-clad little jockey keeps a look-out, sitting sideways, and now and again flies up after an insect it has espied, returning again after the chase to 'its camel'—as Juma not inaptly called it." This Bee-eater was also seen sitting on the backs of Goats, Sheep, and Antelopes, but the Pauw seemed "its favourite steed."

There are of course many habits of the Elephant to be found scattered in the details of its destruction, but one becomes satiated by the recital which in the excitement of the field is "sport," but in the pages of a book reads "slaughter." A few more excursions in this region of sportsmen with the skill and pluck of Mr. Neumann, and the Elephant must either "move on" or be practically exterminated. The author is of opinion that, in the region he hunted, the Elephant "attains his greatest dimensions both as to bodily bulk and weight of ivory," and this estimate is largely based on the records made by Selous in South Africa.

Lepidopterists will find in an appendix a list of the Rhopalocera collected during the expeditions. This has been compiled by Miss Sharpe, who describes three new species, which are amply illustrated in a coloured plate.