--* Stalking Expeditions in the \\ika 



they suddenly take to flight, soon to disappear in the: dry 

 desert grass. The firmament is clothed in cloudless blue ; 

 the day will undoubtedly prove oppressively hot. The 

 animal world is awake all around us, and especially near 

 the brook. \Ve turn out a pair ot the immense ground- 

 hornbill (Biicorims ca/jcr], the " ol munguk " of tiie 

 Masai people, then a crowd of francolins, and also two 

 large coveys ol guinea-fowl. In rising, these latter utter 

 their indescribable, peculiarly metallic cry. The wise 

 creatures soon plunge into the depths again and run 

 off into safe quarters with, surprising rapidity. The rest 

 of the bird-world is also most actively busy ; the air is 

 thick with doves of different kinds ; the gurgle ot the 

 turtle-dove, called "ndurgulju" by the Masai people, 

 fills the air ; strong coveys ot sand-grouse tly very 

 quickly over our heads to their drinking-places, or, 

 already having drunk their fill, go back into the desert. 

 'I he bushes near the brook are alive with the humming 

 and chirping ot legions ot little red Kaffir finches, which 

 find here lots ot water and a generous least ot ripe 

 grasses. 



My attention is now aroused by some curious birds, 

 which turn out to be wood-hoopoes (frnsor scncga/aisit 

 sowa/iensis), the "el gononi " ot the Masai people, 

 whose shrill laughter, resounding through the. bush, is 

 answered by the characteristic note ot the yellow hornbill 

 (S/n: <jr/i is /i'//(-()<j(is/c'r). At a distance of two hundred 

 paces we now perceive three ot the great Kori bustards 

 ( I'.npodolh ko>'i}. They peer at us timidly and cautiou^K , 

 making ott with slow, measured pace, and with peculiarly 



