166 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
circle through the bushes, he came in sight again and 
stopped only sixty yards from me. The next moment 
a bullet from my .577 passing through both shoulders 
killed him instantly. 
In the morning we marched three hours along a good 
path leading directly west, and camped at Yabich, where 
we found the villages of the Gere Libin of which we had 
been informed. We were now to bid good-by to the river 
Dawa, as the natives told me that the country it passed 
through was very mountainous, and that it would be diffi- 
cult to take the camels along its shores. There were many 
tracks of rhinos and lions, but I did not sight any game on 
the road, on account of the number of people about with 
their flocks. 
Another short march brought us to El] Modu, where we 
were advised to rest for a few days, because we should be 
obliged to make three long marches before reaching water 
again. There was good water at El Modu, and exceilent 
food for the camels, and I also found plenty of work to be 
done in collecting several new and rare species of birds, 
as well as snakes and plants I had not seen before. Ona 
branch of a tall mimosa-tree, that spread lke an umbrella 
over our tents, was built a pretty round nest, with a tiny 
opening in the centre, in which we thought one of those 
beautiful red-breasted starlings, with metallic backs and 
wings, had laid its eggs; and as we were like cruel school- 
boys in collecting eggs, I had the branch partly cut down, 
so that it hung, with the nest, only a few yards from 
the front of my tent. But I was disappointed to find no 
eggs in the nest; but only young birds, too: httle to be 
of scientific value. I did not disturb the nest any more, 
hoping the old birds might come back to their young; 
and I was not disappointed, for no less than four star- 
lings came to tend the little ones, not seeming in the 
