134 THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
forest, a remnant of the vast equatorial forests which once 
stretched right across Africa. 
It was through the ornithological discoveries of Mr. R. E. 
Moreau, of the Agricultural Research Station at Amani, that my 
attention was first drawn to this interesting area. 
Our arrival at the Research Station caused a slight stir among 
the natives, who inquired if we belonged to a new race of giants. 
In accordance with their custom we were soon given native 
names: I was “Bwana Ndegi,” i.e., the Bird Master, and Ferrand 
was “Bwana Nzige,” the Locust Master. It was clear to everyone 
from the first day that my interest lay in the local bird-life, so my 
name was an obvious choice, but it so happened that our arrival 
coincided with a locust invasion, and this was instrumental in Fer- 
rand’s being dubbed Bwana Nzige. The swarm was huge and the 
locusts, as they settled, could be likened in numbers only to falling 
snow-flakes. I pointed out to Ferrand that it was a grand oppor- 
tunity to catch quantities of locusts, dry them, and grind them up 
to make a basis for a mixture that would be ideal for any insec- 
tivorous birds we might capture. So while I was busy piecing 
together collapsible cages, he set to with a borrowed butterfly net, 
slashing in all directions and catching locusts by the hundred until 
he was exhausted. This one-day activity fastened to him a name 
that would have remained for the rest of his life had he become a 
permanent resident. 
The Agricultural Research Station, started by the Germans in 
the early part of the century, was a fascinating place. Neat groves 
of a great variety of introduced trees ranging from cinchona to 
cedar, the latter filling the still morning air with perfume; experi- 
mental crops with an equally wide range from sorghum to sisal; 
and in the virgin forest, labels on many giants indicating their 
correct botanical names, were things to stimulate one’s interest. 
Even more exciting were the laboratories themselves. Here were 
gathered together a number of specialists, each concerned with his 
particular job. In one section one could see a soil chemist analysing 
samples sent from as far afield as Nyasaland. His findings might 
reveal some chemical deficiency which would enable tea-growers 
to improve their soil and so produce good crops, where for some 
unknown reason they had always been disappointing. In another 
