ZOOLOGY 



399 



glossy starlings, but these birds appear to be more than usually abundant 

 or prominent round about Lake Baringo. Being quite unmolested by the 

 jNIasai and Kamasia, they frequent the outskirts of villages in large numbers, 

 making an impressive display as they settle in flocks on the bare skeletons 

 of leafless trees. 



In the Uganda Protectorate the crow tribe is represented, in the 

 lower lying and more tropical portions, by the well-known black and white 

 crow of tropical Africa; on the high plateaux and mountains by the white- 

 necked raven, and also by a black crow which is ap])arently Heierocorax 

 capeiisis. On the Nandi Plateau is found a remarkable looking corvine, 



248. RHfXOCORAX AbFlXJS (THE SI.ENl IKK-BILLEI) CROW OF NANDl) 



which I illustrate. This bird in habits and general appearance strongly 

 resembles a rook. It has a way of perching on trees in the middle of a 

 camp and cawing until the exasjDerated traveller who sufifers from nerves is 

 inclined to go out and shoot it. Its scientific name is Bhinocorax affinis. 



There is the usual abundance of bulbuls, warblers, and thrushes in 

 common with the rest of tropical Africa. In connection with these birds 

 I am weary of contradicting the foolish old dictum that in the tropics 

 birds, though gorgeous of plumage, do not sing. In Uganda, as in British 

 Central Africa, one's ear is constantly delighted with the songs of thrushes, 

 warblers, and bulbuls. 



Amongst barbets may be mentioned the very common and very beautiful 



