AND THE RUDOLF EASIX 



11 



near tlie IMasai kraals, the Andorobo encani}iinents, or European .settlements 

 in this region, a charming little bird, a s[)ecies of chat (Mf/naecocich/a 

 crypfoletica), may be seen in numbers, quite as tame as the London sparrow. 

 The bird in liotli sexes is black (though the female has a brownish tinge), 

 with the exception of a patch on the pinion, which is snow-white. 'J'he 

 male appears to be always courting the female, at any rate during a 

 good proportion of the year. When engaged in this pleasing pastime, 

 he sings with the most penetrating sweetness until almost intoxicated 

 with his own melody. This feeling of great elation causes him 

 to expand his tail into a fan over his back, spread his wings, and 

 hop before the seemingly indifferent female. Xo description of the 

 Rift Valley would be complete without the introduction of these chats, 

 who are every wliere present and always dancing and singing while the 

 sun shines. 



Beautiful scenery characterises the western side of Lake Nakuio. 

 The vegetation is, perhaps, rather harsh and East African in appearance, 

 except for a noble wood of acacias at the north corner of this little lake. 

 There is a weird picturesqueness where the rising heights of the Mau 



c,. LAKii -NAkLliO, iKOM THE NOKTH-WKST 



Plateau fall in abrupt precipices down to the waters of Nakuro, hung 

 with vegetation of that rather savage, grotesque aspect associated with 

 gouty or spidery euphorbias, aloes, and thorny acacias. Enormous baboons 



