-^ The Spell of the Elelescho 



together with its smaller African cousin, the Abdim stork, 

 is stalking in hundreds over the plain hunting for locusts. 

 In company with the storks I saw also great flocks of the 

 handsome crested crane engaged in the same occupation. 

 Or they rose in heavy flocks over the valleys with loud 

 and strangely discordant cries. Under the scanty shadows 

 of the mimosas the splendid giant bustards take their stand 

 at midday, erect, solemn, stiff-necked. At this time they 

 are not very wary, but in the coolness of the morning 

 and in the evening hours they soon get away to a safe 

 distance, either running with their quick mincing step, or 

 spreading their strong pinions for a short flight along 

 the ground. Their smaller relative, Otis gindiana^ Oust., 

 rose before me in the air, often throwing somersaults on 

 the wing like a tumbler pigeon. There is hardly any 

 other bird of its size that has such a mastery of flight. 

 Sea-eagles circled by the margin of the lake uttering their 

 beautiful clear-sounding cries. Heedless of their presence 

 thousands of splendid rose-red flamingoes soared up into 

 the deep blue dome of the sky, or lined the margin of 

 Nakuro, like a garland of living lake-roses, in company 

 with great flocks of ducks, geese, and waterside birds of 

 many kinds. Out of the clumps of acacias, and from 

 between the thickets of 'msuaki bush by the lake, guinea 

 fowl and francolins rise, strung out in clattering flying 

 lines, and in the morning hours handsome sandfowl that 

 have come from far-off regions of the plateau sail by the 

 margin of the lake. Altogether an overwhelmingly rich 

 picture of warmly pulsating life and activity ! The sight 

 of it all is indeed quite capable of impressing one with 



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