TKOOPS OF LIONS FLIGHTS OF KITES. 267 



'* Still the same burning sun ! no cloud in heaven ! 

 The hot air quivers ; and the sultry mist 

 Floats o'er the desert vnih a show 

 Of distant waters." 



The presence of herds of the beautiful oryx, the lively 

 quagga, and the grotesque gnoo, which looked like 



" Beasts of mixed and monstrous birth, 

 Creations of some fabled earth," 



served further to enhance the interest of the scene. 



These were glorious times for the lions, who were exceed- 

 ingly numerous. On passing Tineas and Onanis, both fa- 

 mous strongholds for this animal, we started troops of them 

 among the broken ground, but they invariably ran away, 

 and all my efforts to get a shot at them were unavailing. 



One day, while refreshing ourselves and cattle in the midst 

 of a scene like that just described, the men being busy cut- 

 ting up, or " dressing," as butchers would say, two fine 

 oryxes, the produce of the morning hunt, we were suddenly 

 surrounded by a cloud of kites. The actions of these birds 

 were most strange. Hovering within a few feet of our heads, 

 they eyed us steadily for a while, and then took themselves 

 off as if satisfied. Another batch would now approach so 

 near that, in order to avoid coming in contact with us, they 

 threw themselves on their backs, spreading out their wings 

 and talons, and opening their beaks, while one or two actu- 

 ally, with a swoop, snatched the food out of the hands of the 

 natives. It was only after having brought down several with 

 the rifle that the rest thought best to keep at a more respect- 

 ful distance.* 



This day, and during the whole of the following, we en- 

 countered myriads of lemon-colored butterflies. Their num- 



* Several well-known Australian explorers make mention of similar 

 occurrences with this identical bird. I have also heard that in India 

 it is no unusual thing to see hawks snatch the food from a person as 

 he travels along. 



