Review.



115



the ancient writer we murmur, “ Say not the former times were

better than these,” for the book now before us, in its enchanting and

minutely accurate descriptions, should rank as a permanent classic

of zoology.


Some books of travel are cumbrous, utterly uninteresting,

wearisomely prolix; but the present volume is not one of these.

Vivid description is the keynote of every page of this pleasant

record, interesting alike to those of us who have seen something

of Africa, and also to those who have not. Arrived safely at

Mombasa, we pass through the choking red dust of the Tarn desert

to the rolling grassland alive with Ostrich and Zebra; thence to

prosperous Nairobi with its stone buildings, and to Lake Nakuru

sheeted with blue lotus lilies. There are pages on Zanzibar, Tanga

and Dar-es-Salaam. The second part of the book deals with hunting

experiences among big game; the third part is miscellaneous, and

the fourth consists of an account of fishing in the Protectorate,

by the late F. G. Afialo. Interwoven into the book are several

passages which will delight the aviculturist. Take, for example, the

description of Vultures assembling at a kill (p. 252):


“ First a speck in the blue, which seems to fall with ever-

increasing velocity; then other specks appearing with incredible

speed from every point of the compass, until the air above the kill

is darkened with the spread of wings. They drop to earth, and

stand around in a circle, or perch in the boughs of neighbouring

trees if there be any close enough. They are of all sorts and sizes.

The Vultures are dignified and sedate, quietly but keenly expectant

of the moment of your departure, but the small fry, such as Kites,

Kestrels and the like form a shrieking, tumultuous mass, around

which the Marabouts pace solemnly as though on guard. Above

there are others, and yet others constantly converging to the spot.

You move off and there is a rush and a tumult of sound—the

flapping of wings, chattering of harsh voices, clashing of beaks.

You look back, and there is a black, struggling heap. A minute or

two, and the flapping and rushing of wings begins afresh. The

birds of prey are once more mounting to their airy look-out.”


There are notes on Guinea-fowl, on Herons and Storks and

Marabouts, on Parrots, on Weavers, and on Touracoes; the bell-like



