AND THE RUDOLF BASIN 11 



near the Masai kraals, the Andorobo encampments, or European settlements 

 in this region, a charming little bird, a species of chat (Mijrmecocichla 

 cryptolevca), may be seen in numbers, quite as tame as the London sparrow. 

 The bird in both sexes is black (though the female has a brownish tinge). 

 with the exception of a patch ou the pinion, which is snow-white. The 

 male appears to be always courting the female, at any rate during a 

 good proportion of the year. When engaged in this pleasing pastime, 

 he sings with the most penetrating sweetness until almost intoxicated 

 with his own melody. This feeling of great elation causes him 

 to expand his tail into a fan over his back, spread his wings, and 

 ho}) before the seemingly indifferent female. No description of the 

 Kift Valley would be complete without the introduction of these chats, 

 who are everywhere present and always dancing and singing while the 

 sun shines. 



Beautiful scenery characterises the western side of Lake Xakuro. 

 The vegetation is, perhaps, rather harsh and East African in appearance, 

 except for a noble wood of acacias at the north corner of this little lake. 

 There is a weird ])icturesqneness where the rising lieights of the Man 



q. LAKE NAKLKO, KHO.M THE N()KTH-\\ EST 



Plateau fall in abrupt precipices down to the waters of Nakiuo, hung 

 with vegetation of that rather savage, grotesque aspect associated with 

 gouty or spidery euphorbias, aloes, and tliorny acacias. Enormous baboons 



