248 



ON SAFARI 



chooses the higher groiuid for its winter quarters, 

 although I noticed a single common hoopoe at Sultan 

 Hamud on March 22. An allied family, the wood- 

 hoopoes {Irrisor), birds of dark plumage shot with 

 brilliant metallic reflections, and with long cuneate tails, 

 were also noticeable here, and remarkable for the scansorial 

 powers they have developed. Twice we observed them 



^CA^s, 



LILAC-BKEASTED ROLLER [Corcicios Caudatus). 



A study in vivid blues, greens and chestnut. 



climbing on tree-trunks in search of insects, quite like 

 woodpeckers, as sketched on p. 243. These are noisy 

 birds, attracting one's attention far away in the bush, 

 and then, when disturbed, flying ofl" with discordant cries. 

 Doves and green pigeons ( Vinago) abounded. 



It is, of course, impossible even roughly to describe 

 the bird-life of a wide region on so brief an experience 

 as ours — especially when, during our short sojourn, birds 

 formed but a secondary object. Still one has always 



