THE RAVINE DISTRICT 



S3 



Most travellers who have been for some years up-country, 

 declare that Lake Naivasha is on the increase ; I am of the 

 same opinion. I am under the impression, that a certain copse 

 of thorn-trees which is now standing in the water marks the 

 very spot, where our caravan camped four years ago. This, 

 to geographical science, interesting information could be easily 

 verified by fixing a few poles at the edge of the water, record- 

 ing the date, and from time to time, say every six months, 

 observing by their position if the lake has increased, decreased, 

 or remained the same. Lake Naivasha has no visible exit, 

 and yet some fairly large rivers, such as the Morendat and the 

 Gilgil, empty themselves into it. 



It is a sight to see the waterfowl which frequent the lake. 

 On my first journey, though we arrived here one day and left 

 next morning, I had time to secure an interesting mixed bag 

 of snipe, coot, grebe, wild goose, and a variety of different 

 species of duck. The most delicate for the table were teal and 

 snipe. Flamingo, ibis, and a vast number of other aquatic 

 birds thickly cover the shores. On one journey I saw wild-geese 

 feeding on the adjoining grassy plains by the thousand ; but 

 when they are present in such numbers, I found them most 

 difficult to shoot. They were as vigilant as the historic geese 

 which saved the Roman Capitol. They 

 seemed to know exactly how far the shot 

 could carry, and they gauged accurately 

 the distance I might be allowed to draw 

 near, before they flew off with a harsh 

 noisy scream which startled and frightened 

 all the other birds near them. 



At the south-east end of Lake Naivasha 

 is the extinct volcano Longonot, with a 

 huge crater on its summit. 



Lake Elmenteita and Lake Nakuru are 

 both brackish ; and though a good many 

 waterfowl are found on them, the number 

 is insignificant compared to what is seen 

 on Lake Naivasha. At Lake Nakuru I 

 shot a guinea-fowl and an ibis. The guinea-fowl is interesting ; 

 for it has been described by the learned ornithologist, Mr. E. 

 Hartert, director of the Tring Museum, as a new species. For 

 a scientific description of the bird vide Appendix. 



GUINEA-FOWL AND IBIS. 



