OF THE DESERT 223 



partridge, hare, and sand-grouse. The 

 prettiest of these was one at a sand -grouse, 

 which, put up at the end of the Hne, came 

 straight over my head, high and fast, but 

 did not save himself on that occasion. 



We beat one or two maize fields. Some 

 yielded a hare ; some only a jackal ; at 

 which nobody, I should think, would shoot. 

 The men were beating one of these fields to- 

 wards me, when, almost on its near edge, a 

 large bird got up with a bustle, and came 

 down with a thump. It was a florican, not 

 uncommon in the rains, but a prize so late 

 in the year. The great bustard, which is 

 also excellent eating, is found in these 

 parts, but must be stalked with a rifle. 

 So must the huge sarus crane, of which, 

 by the way, we saw a few solemnly walking 

 about this afternoon. Of ''small deer" we 



