ii6 



interesting passage in the chapter devoted to the animals ot 



that part of the Continent. 



"With some striking exceptions, the birds of East Africa 



**are remarkable for their large size rather than for their 



" numbers or their brilliant plumage. Besides Ostriches, there 



'* may generally be seen from the Uganda Railway, between 



" Makindu and Nairobi and in the Rift Valley, large Storks and 



" Bustards, as well as an occasional Secretary bird. On the 



" borders of lakes and rivers, waterbirds — Cranes, Pelicans, or 



" Flamingoes, according to the locality — are generally present 



"in enormous crowds. Particularly beautiful are the Crowned 



" Cranes and the snow-white Egrets. A very conspicuous bird 



" in the uplands at some times of the year is Jackson's 



"Weaver. The male, which has immensely long tail feathers 



" that give him somewhat the appearance of a flying tadpole, is 



"generally accompanied by a whole harem of females, before 



" whom he is said to display his charms by dancing in a specially 



" constructed bower or playground. A characteristic inhabitant 



"of the lower forests is the Hornbill, a large bird with a huge 



"beak. It is of very friendly disposition, and will follow a 



"caravan for many miles, chattering all the time. Among 



"game birds, whose flesh affords excellent eating, may be 



" mentioned the Kanga or Guinea-fowl, the Lesser Bustard, 



"wild Pigeons, and various kinds of Spur-fowl, belonging, I 



"believe, to diff'erent genera from those found in other parts 



"of the world." 



"Forest of Dean." 



