366 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xxix 



crested crane owing to its beautiful plumage, and though 

 they eat almost anything, forbid their people eating this 

 beautiful bird. 



Some of the shrikes in East Africa are furnished with 

 a crest, which differs from that possessed by most 

 birds, for it extends along the front of the head 

 to the base of the beak. The top-knot in the Helmet- 

 shrike resembles the horse-hair plume in the crest of 

 a Grecian helmet. The crest and plume were probably 

 added to the helmet in order to make the soldiers look 

 terrible to their enemies in time of war and appear more 

 handsome to their friends in time of peace. This 

 same feeling animates all savage races. The Masai 

 to this day wear extraordinary head-dresses made of 

 ostrich feathers, or of the mane of a lion, so that hey 

 may terrify their enemies when on the war path. 



The feathery crest or top-knot is useful to birds : 

 they use it for fascinating hens and terrifying enemies. 



