26 O'DoNOGHUE, Rambles in Raak. [voT''^xxxiii 



tlic unpleasantness, a dust-laden north wind sprang up and 

 gradually increased in temperature and intensity. Hastening 

 south, we at length arrived, heated and uncomfortable, at 

 Brighton's Tank, which comprised two small, shallow, oblong, 

 artificial excavations, in a natural depression, containing a few 

 thousand gallons of turbid water. Here we refreshed, and 

 rested in the shade of the pines. 



In order to ascertain the extent to which this tank was 

 frequented by the birds and marbujnals of the locality, we 

 repaired to it later, and, ensconcing in selected positions, 

 awaited the coming of dusk. As the gloom deepened the "flies 

 that had plagued us exceedingly all day withdrew, and small 

 l)ut energetic mosquitoes began to dis})ense their favours 

 withcnit fear or impartiality ; the stridulations of the mole 

 crickets, GryUotalpa coarctata, gradually decreased in volume 

 and intensity ; the belated calls of the Crested Oreoica, the 

 Pallid Cuckoo. Ciicidus pallidum, and the White-winged Chough 

 hnally ceased, and the prevailing quiet was broken only by the 

 grating of the large windmill near at hand, the plaintive calls 

 of the Curlews, and the low " Peep, peep" of a pair of tiny 

 Black -breasted Plover as the}^ paraded the muddy margin of 

 the tank. A Large-tailed Nightjar, Caprtmulgiis macrurus, 

 flits into our rapidly-lessening range of view, circles noiselessly 

 above our heads, and then alights on the groimd a few yards 

 distant from us to seize a mole cricket its keen eyes had 

 detected. A period of quietude ensues ; then, witli whistling 

 pinions, a pair of Bronze-wings alight on the ground near at 

 liand, and, after a careful survey of their siu'roundings, run to 

 tlie water's edge and drink long and deeply. They depart in 

 due course, and we wait patiently but imavailingly for the 

 next visitant, and then stroll homewards, our route illuminated 

 by repeated vivid flashes of lightning — the precursors of the 

 rain clquds that shed some of their contents on Raak during 

 the night. The outcome of our visit was disap})ointing ; but 

 had it been imdertaken later in the season, when the heat had 

 wilted the succulent plants that carpeted the ground, better 

 results would have undoubtedly attended it. In support of 

 this contention, we might mention that the cattle and horses 

 depasturing on Raak had not been near water for over four 

 montlis prior to our arrival, owing to the Common Sow-thistle, 

 SoncJius oleraceiis, on which they practically lived, containing 

 sufficient moisture to satisfy their thirst. 



Shortly after g o'clock one morning, when some miles south- 

 east of the hut, we came upon a tree jjossessed of several trunks, 

 all of which were i)iped, and. as we considered, eminently 

 suitable for affording shelter to an Owl-Swallow, .Egotheles hovcb- 

 hollandicv. Each in turn was subjected to a careful investiga- 



