observed in Northern Somali-land. 83 



by pecking away at the exposed flesh, prevent their healing. 

 Surely the baggage-camel's lot is not a happy one ! 



42. CosMOPSARUS REGIUS, Rcichen. ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 411. 



This bird is far from plentiful, but is to be met with on 

 the open plains in small parties of three or four. I never 

 noticed it iu the thickly-wooded parts of the Goolis, nor 

 could I find out where it nested. A flock of these gorgeous 

 birds in the dazzling sunshine is a sight not to be forgotten. 



43. Amydrus morio (Linn.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 

 xiii. p. 161. 



These Grakles frequent the highest part of the Goolis 

 range, and are always to be found in the neighbourhood of 

 the precipitous clifls which crown the range and areiu many 

 places quite perpendicular for some hundreds of feet. These 

 clifls are studded with wind-worn cavities varying in size 

 from a pigeon-hole to a good-sized cavern. In the former 

 the '' Morios " make their homes, flying in and out after 

 the manner of Jackdaws, and indeed, when seen from above, 

 lying flat at the edge of the clifi's, the male (?) bird, Avith his 

 grey head and noisy cry, greatly resembles our familiar 

 " Jack.'' The larger holes are tenanted by Vultures, Hawks, 

 Eagles, and Owls, and seem to be a general breeding-place 

 for Northern Somali- land, as from the top of the cliff's the 

 land slopes away southwards hundreds of miles, and forms a 

 vast undulating plain, while towards the north there is a 

 rapid fall of 6000 feet in the short space of 40 miles which 

 intervenes between the Goolis and the sea. 



44. NoTAUGES suPERBUs (Riipp.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 412. 



This lovely Starling is one of the most familiar objects of 

 bird-life in Somali-land. It is a persistent camp-follower, 

 showing little or no fear of man, hopping about over bales 

 and boxes and peering into the tents, its little white eyes 

 gleaming with intelligence all the while. We found it 

 breeding in small colonics during March and April, the 

 nests being placed far out on the boughs of the taller 



