158 Phillips, Birds of the Sudan. [Aril 



and von Heuglin, while of late years Reichenow, Neumann and 

 others have done a great deal of systematic work. Mr. A. L. 

 Butler, present Superintendent of Game Preservation at Khartoum, 

 has given us interesting papers on Sudan birds since 1905. He is 

 a keen observer, and has the interests of the great game and the 

 birds very much at heart. He has been instrumental in many 

 reforms such as limiting the slaughter of the sand-grouse near 

 Khartoum, protecting the giraffe, etc. It is hoped that the Govern- 

 ment will always be able to find such men, and that the policy of no 

 arms for the Arabs and large sanctuaries for the game animals can 

 be continued. 



Were space sufficient, I should like to speak of many of the other 

 groups. We had to leave just when some of the birds were begin- 

 ing to assume their spring plumage and to sing. A little later the 

 common weavers change from dull browns to orange, yellows and 

 .reds, and must be a gorgeous sight. 



The Sudan has a curious attraction, and what it is no man can 

 say, but as I look back I think of two pictures ; one a crisp Febru- 

 ary morning breakfasting by candle light and watching the com- 

 plaining camels as they are led in out of the still dusky thorn trees, 

 while the first flights of cranes and weavers appear against a pale 

 pink dawTi. Next it is noon on a winding path amid the sweet 

 smelling thorn bush. Nothing is heard but the tireless scuff-scuff 

 of my camels' feet, on the dusty path, while hornbills flap from the 

 branches as we pass, and the sun blares down through the leafless 

 trees. 



