2 24 Jotirnal of Travel and Natural History 



"We were under the necessity of driving them (the natives) off with our 

 dogs, of which, owing to their superiority in size and bark over their own dogs, 

 they have a great dread." — (vol. i., p. 92.) 



They have domestic fowls, apparently a variety of the barn-door 

 chuckle, which is found over the whole world ; and finding 

 them thus in the heart of Africa, although of a distinct variety, 

 may suggest doubts as to that invaluable member of society having 

 been derived from the Bankiva fowl, and give rise to the inquiry 

 whether the Bankiva fowl is not an offshoot of our common species 

 run wild, instead of the wild origin of the tame breed. At any rate 

 Mr Chapinan found that the Makololos had a breed of very small 

 fowls, like bantams, not remarkable for beauty of plumage, but 

 exceedingly prolific, some hens laying two eggs regularly every 

 day ; and he observed, that one of the hens with chickens only a 

 month old, was again laying.- — (vol. ii., p. 147 and p. 253.) 



Of the geographical distribution of plants and animals some- 

 thing is also to be learned. It would appear that a ridge between 

 the Shua and the Gwai rivers formed the boundary between two 

 Faunas, or sub-Faunas. The rivers here flowed in opposite 

 directions, and new birds came into view while others disappeared. — 

 (vol. ii., p. 95, 96.) 



North-west of Lake N'Gami, vultures were scarce. Elephants 

 shot were not found by them for three or four days, during which 

 they did not make their appearance. He remarks that the 

 adjutants were more numerous on the carcases than the vultures, 

 and must have come from a very great distance — (vol. ii., p. 20) 

 — thus confirming Sir Samuel Baker's observation, that they occupy 

 the highest stratum in the heavens, and come from the greatest 

 distances. 



At Kopjes (south-west of Lake N'Gami) one fennec and one 

 guinea fowl were got. Giraffes Avere not rare near Walvisch Bay. 

 The Cerastes or horned snake is common everywhere, from the 

 Cape to Ovamboland, on the west side of the continent. In 

 Ovamboland particularly, Chapman's brother found them so 

 numerous after a fall of rain (for contrary to the general opinion 

 Mr Chai)man maintains that snakes do not like great heat) which 

 succeeded a severe and long continued drought, that the ground 

 was covered with these venemous reptiles, so that they could 

 hardly walk without treading on them. — (vol. ii., p. 26.) 



Glow-worms are plentiful in some parts, which is quite in 



