observed in Northern Somali-land. 73 



tree. They have a most disgusting smell, the cause of which 

 I am unable to explain, and it was with the greatest repug- 

 nance that 1 managed to skin one specimen. 



3. Upupa somaliensis, Salvin,Cat.B. Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 13. 

 Upupa epops senegalensis, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 397. 

 Very common, and does not seem to differ in its habits 



from the Hoopoe, which is such a familiar object along the 

 banks of the Nile. It is quite fearless of man, and its great 

 tameness may be accounted for by the fact that it is beloved 

 by the Somalis, who look upon it as a harbinger of good 

 times to come. One day, as I was watching one of the 

 beautiful birds seated on an ant-hill close to the tents, a 

 native who prided himself on his English said to me, " You 

 know what he sayin' ? He say hoot-hoot-hoot, plenty rain 

 comin^ ; hoot-hoot-hoot, all the camels an^ cows make young 

 ones, all de goats an^ sheep make young ones ; hoot-hoot- 

 hoot, plenty grass comin'.^' Who would not love the bearer 

 of such good news ? 



4. Merops nubicus (Gm.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 397. 



I was unable to obtain a specimen of this fine Bee-eater ; 

 but on the 7th of April I saw hundreds of them high in the 

 air apparently making their way in a north-easterly direc- 

 tion. They were easily distinguishable by their bright 

 carmine bellies. 



5. Melittophagus cyanostictus (Cab.). 

 Melittophagus pusillus cyanostictus, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, 



p. 398. 



This little Bee-eater is one of the most familiar objects both 

 on the march and in camp. It is to be seen everywhere 

 perched on a prominent dry twig, or making its beau- 

 tiful undulating flight in pursuit of some quickly-flying 

 butterfly, which it invariably captures seemingly without an 

 effort. Unless disturbed, it always returns with its prey to 

 its own particular twig, in which it seems from long usage 

 to have established a sort of vested right, to judge from 

 the droppings and insect '' debris" which are to be found 

 underneath. 



