GIANT TORTOISES— HAMMER KOPF 199 



The smaller of my Giant Tortoises died, I 

 grieve to say, this morning. My latest acquisition 

 of much importance consists of two " Tufted 

 Ombres" (Scopus umbretta), very curious birds, 

 related to the Storks but, roughly speaking, about 

 the size and something of the same colour as the 

 Glossy Ibis ; they came to me from Bechuana- 

 land, where they are known as Hammer Kopf, 

 from the shape of beak and crest. I believe that 

 only one of this species has ever been seen alive 

 in England, before my two arrivals." 



To F. D. Drewitt. 



' Lilford : February 10, 1896. 



' Thank you very much for the excellent 

 photographs of Arab falconers, safely received 

 yesterday. [From South Algeria]. . . . 



' If the Kaid has any true Sakers it would be 

 very interesting to know whence he procures 

 them, as we at present do not know of their 

 breeding in North Africa, or, indeed, anywhere 

 to the westward of the Lower Danube. I am 

 convinced that there are two distinct races of 

 Lanner in North Africa. Any information upon 

 Algerian falconry would be most interesting. 



