274 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1936 



reason, all the others join in at once in sympathy. It is probably 

 very comforting though not melodious. 



A grotesque creature which occurs in abundance in the Kishasha 

 Valley is the three-horned chameleon {Chameleo j. johnstoni). This 

 oddity grows to a length exceeding 12 inches, and the males appear 

 to retain some of the characters of the prehistoric type Tricerato'ps, 

 which they are not unlike in miniature, with three curious horns, 1 

 to 11/2 inches in length, protruding forward from the nose and be- 

 tween the eyes. It is the male only which possesses this fearsome 

 looking adornment, and the horns are used with extraordinary 

 effect. The males are extremely pugnacious, and fight furiously, 

 when the horns play the principal part, and these combats are worth 

 watching. At times the contests develop into a tedious pushing 

 match, when the horns are interlocked; at others a really vigorous 

 tighter will dispose of its adversary in a few moments. The colora- 

 tion of the males, chiefly brilliant blue, green and yellow, is par- 

 ticularly vivid and attractive. As is universal throughout Africa 

 the local natives are terrified of chameleons. 



Another interesting point about this region is the abundance of 

 iron, in the form of powdery haematite about 90 percent pure. There 

 are thousands of tons of it, and everywhere it can be found sticking 

 above the surface. In this form it is comparatively simple for the 

 local natives, with their primitive, though serviceable home-made 

 bellows and forge to convert it into spear heads, bill hooks, and 

 other necessary implements. 



Unfortunately, I am not qualified to describe the beautiful flowers 

 which grow in profusion in the valleys and on the more humid lower 

 forest slopes. Wild balsams are amongst the commonest, and an 

 unattractive white species, and another of Kaffir pink, abound every- 

 where. In the darker, damper localities is found a type, common in 

 all the ultra wet forests of Uganda, with reddish stems and leaves, 

 and deep red waxy flowers. A tiny species with minute white blooms 

 is quite the most pleasing. Begonias, their floral artistry confined to 

 shades of a combination of pink and white, are locally abundant. 

 Some are small and grow in profusion pendant from the tree boughs, 

 others of a climbing variety and very much larger attain an immense 

 length. An unidentified flower with lovely mauve spikes grew in 

 profuse masses in some moist places where more than the usual 

 amount of sunlight penetrated. The strangest was a green, orchis- 

 like flower, the blossoms sparingly marked with delicate shades of 

 brown and yellow. 



On the open hill sides the Erythrina trees are found in flamboyant 

 splendor, their marvellous scarlet flowers, which come out before 

 the leaves, producing a wonderful effect against the dark background. 

 The vivid coloration can be seen for miles with the naked eye. A 



