416 Messrs. JR,. B. & J. D. S. Woodward^s Journeys 



hunts along most of the river-courseSj where it feeds upon the 

 frogs, reptiles, and insects that it finds there. It is a strange 

 solitary bird, nearly allied to the Herons. The nest is a 

 huge domed structure made of sticks. 



Towards the end of February, having got all we could 

 here, we inspanned our oxen and started for the Umbe- 

 gamusa, a tributary of the Black Umfolosi, which we were 

 told was a good place for birds. The road was stony and in 

 some spots in very bad order, and some of the spokes of 

 the cart-wheels came to pieces. After a journey up and 

 down some steep hills of about 20 miles we reached the 

 river, and, crossing, camped on the opposite bank. This was 

 a beautiful district, the flats and hill-slopes covered with 

 large thorn-trees and tall rank grass ; but it has the repu- 

 tation of being unhealthy. We spent some weeks here and 

 at the Black Umfolosi, and got a few birds and insects, but 

 could not obtain the number and variety in this district that 

 we did at the Umhlatoosi and on the White Umfolosi. 



Oxpeckers {Buphaga) were numerous here and were a great 

 nuisance to one of the beasts who had a bad sore. Though 

 we shot many, others came, and alighting on the back of 

 the ox, and pecking with their peculiar blunt-pointed bills, 

 prevented the sore from healing. These birds, though they 

 do occasional mischief, destroy multitudes of ticks which creep 

 up upon the cattle from the grass and keep them in bad 

 condition by sucking their blood. In this work they are 

 most indefatigable, and are hardly ever seen away from the 

 cattle except when they fly from one herd to another. 

 The cow seems to recognize the Oxpecker as her friend, 

 rather encouraging its attentions than otherwise. When 

 disturbed the bird sets up a harsh screaming and flies away 

 high overhead. 



Guinea-fowl are abundant here, but are more often heard 

 than seen, as they keep to the long grass, which makes 

 stalking them very difficult. The Bush-Partridge {Franco- 

 linus natalensis) is common in the woods and thickets, and 

 its pleasant evening call-note is heard continually. It seems 

 to favour most the neighbourhood of kraals and homesteads. 



