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ON SAFARI 



strange or suspect object — tliat actuates most of the 

 birds above mentioned to make nuisances of themselves. 

 The honey-guide, as explained, has a clear and definite 

 aim in so doing ; while the shrikes may also, as sug- 

 gested, have an intelligent motive. But with the rest 

 it is merely the " mobbing " instinct. That impulse is 

 all the greater when — probably for the first time in 

 their lives — such birds as touracos, plovers, rollers and 

 the rest observe large creatures like human beings 

 prone on earth and advancing with secret serpentine 

 movement — naturally they sound the alarm. 



Bird-nuisances may thus be divided into three 

 classes, to wit : (1) Those whose interference is purely 

 accidental, such as the francolins, guinea-fowls, etc. ; (2) 

 those which offend from sheer " cussedness," such as 

 plovers, louries, rollers and that ilk ; while (3) the 

 honey-guides, and possibly also the shrikes, can boast 

 a clear and intelligent reason for their (nevertheless) 

 untimely solicitations. 



TUKACUS CORYTHAIX. 



