SURGEON-BIRDS. 1 93 



of the feathered creation. Of these there arc two 

 species common to this region, the larger and lesser 

 (Parra Africana and P. Capensis) ; their habits of 

 life seem to be identical, and quarrelling with each 

 other their favourite pastime. In these little 

 differences of opinion, they frequently lose or miss 

 their footing on the lily leaves, but without an 

 effort regain their supports. Like many of the 

 plover family, when in a state of quiescence they 

 jerk their heads about, as if nodding to each other, 

 in terms of the greatest familiarity. 



Soon my attendants had at the water's edge 

 about thirty logs of a species of geelhoiit, or yellow 

 wood. Remembering Robinson Crusoe's experience, 

 I resolved to build my raft in the water, close to a 

 shoal bar at the termination of the rapids. Vines 

 were brought to bind the impromptu craft together, 

 but I soon discovered that with such lashings there 

 was evinced such an evident amount of instability 

 that I resolved postponing my voyage till the raft 

 was doubly secured by rkeims. The reader need 

 not think me timorous for thus procrastinating, but 

 I do not see any fun in a swim among crocodiles, 

 which, if it should terminate safely to my person, 

 possibly would result in the loss of my rifle. So, 

 soon after three o'clock, we started on our return for 

 camp. Not half a mile from home I was attracted 

 by the note, "toe toe toe tocko," of a yellow-billed 

 hornbill (Buceros flavirostris), whose hiding-place, 1 



o 



