PANDEMONIUM. 



in 



Its nest is a curiosity, for it would be a load 

 for an ordinary wagon ; moreover, it is roofed over, 

 and so firmly are the sticks placed that they would 

 support with ease the weight of a man. 



Further, this bird seems to be an unsatiable 

 collector of curiosities, for around its domicile will 

 be found every small article that comes under its 

 notice, such as buttons, nails, fragments of cloth, 

 and even sardine boxes, and tins that have con- 

 tained coffee or preserved milk. 



Its habitat is South Africa and Madagascar, 

 beyond these it has never been found ; which being 

 the case, if for no other reason, it is worthy of the 

 notice of the naturalist. 



It is quite possible to have an excess of tobacco, 

 and it is equally possible to have too little sleep, 

 so at length I turned in, determined not to be dis- 

 turbed ; but Somnus would not come to my aid, 

 and it is scarcely surprising that he did not, for 

 what between my friend's grumbling, the servants' 

 snoring, and the dogs 7 barking, a perfect pande- 

 monium reigned outside ; but the whole was brought 

 to a climax by one of the dogs returning from the 

 feasting-place to the wagon, yelling with the full 



