192 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



and, as the skin had not been broken, I recom- 

 mended a continuation of arnica for the future treat- 

 ment of the contusion. For the benefit of the 

 traveller, let me remark here that, for similar in- 

 juries, I have ever found it invaluable both in the 

 treatment of man and beast. 



I neglected to say that, on my way home, I shot 

 a specimen of the black-and-white kingfisher, a very 

 rare bird -in this part of -South Africa, although it is 

 not uncommon; two' hundred -miles or so to the west- 

 ward of our present : position,. viz. in Great Namaqua- 

 land, a country, from its barrenness and dearth of 

 water, seemingly entirely; unfitted for the require- 

 ments of a member of his family. 



It was sitting on a low twig watching the surface 

 of a rain vley, which could not, by any amount of 

 human imagination, be supposed to contain fish ; but 

 the kingfisher, likely as not, knew better. Its in- 

 cessant chattering first attracted my attention to it, a 

 peculiarity not possessed by other species of the 

 family, if I except the laughing jackass of Australia ; 

 and, when two are 'found associated, through this 

 peculiarity of character, they keep their vicinity quite 

 lively. Moreover, it is so far from shy that it may 

 be deemed impudent, and has a most comical way 

 of twisting its head to the right or left, at the same 

 time assuming an inquiring expression, which seldom 

 fails to cause the observer to laugh. 



It is about the size of our blue jay, builds in 



