292 
termites, sometimes broken pieces of 
the hard clay nests containing these in- 
sects but preferably with the large, fat, 
winged termites themselves so beloved 
by birds. Such a trap is very effective, 
catching francolins, guinea fowl, large 
wood-rails, pigeons, and a great variety 
of smaller birds. Ants of course, were 
unfortunately so numerous and indus- 
trious that specimens left too long in 
the traps were sure to be mutilated — and 
many a time too, I have had to berate 
well-meaning men who brought us the 
birds but kept all the quills which they 
had pulled out from wings and tail to 
decorate their hats. 
Sometimes simple loops of thin cord 
would suffice to snare birds, especially 
near their nests. The Logo trapped the 
large bustard by constructing a rude 
fence in places where the grass had been 
freshly burned, with openings at inter- 
vals where loops of cord awaited the 
neck of a victim. I have seen men of 
the same tribe capture waxbills in rude 
cages built on the ground, with a little 
grain as bait. 
The most curious way of catching 
birds however, that I ever witnessed was 
at a small cave, large enough to hold two 
or three men, in a steep bank of a wooded 
ravine. Here a man would sit inside, 
having fastened a piece of calico like a 
curtain above the small entrance, and 
wait for the colies, or mouse-birds, which 
came in numbers to eat the earth in this 
When a number of birds had 
entered he would suddenly pull down the 
cloth, cutting off their escape, and catch 
them in his hands. I have known thirty 
to be caught in this way within a few 
hours. 
Some small red-headed rails that we 
found very difficult to flush, we could 
often catch in the hand —as the Ma- 
budu taught us— after we had sur- 
recess. 
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
rounded them by a circle of a dozen or 
more natives or even children. In the 
same fashion we once caught a crake, 
almost as large as a clapper-rail. 
I knew a man of the Ababua tribe, 
who was able to call forest guinea-fowl 
(Guttera), and have seen him bring up a 
whole flock to within a few paces by 
imitating their nasal calls. He was a cor- 
poral in the native police force and a 
very useful man to his European officer, 
for besides these guinea-fowl he could eall 
also the small antelopes of the forest — 
with a loud sound like “n-n-n-y-au!” 
made with fingers pressed to the nose — 
providing the means of many a welcome 
change in the menu. 
With regard to the migration of birds, 
we enjoyed unusual opportunities for 
observations extending over several 
years. Not only are there many that 
come from Europe to spend their win- 
ter in central Africa —for example, the 
nightingale, swallows, warblers, falcons, 
storks, snipe and other water birds, but 
also a number of African forms that do 
migrate to a certain extent, including 
certain of the lapwings, storks, bustards, 
hawks, kites, nightjars and weavers. 
The bird collection made by the expedi- 
tion is remarkably rich, not only in the 
number of specimens, but particularly 
with regard to the variety of different 
species, which number close to six 
hundred, many of them as yet very rare 
in museums, and some still unknown. 
Our long stay in the Congo, with its 
trying climate, would have been im- 
possible without the many privileges 
and favors bestowed upon us by the 
Belgian Government, whose amiable 
representatives always welcomed us in 
the most cordial manner and assisted us 
in every way, contributing very much 
to the success of our work and winning 
our deepest admiration and gratitude. 
