SKETCHES IN THE SOUDAN 63 



dip their beaks in, raise their heads to let the refreshing draught 

 run down their thirsty throats with an appearance of intense 

 enjoyment almost ludicrous. Then something would frighten 

 the whole swarm of small birds at the water, and all with one 

 accord would suddenly fly to the shelter of the rock with a great 

 rush, many passing within easy reach of me, until courage had 

 returned and danger disappeared, when down again they flew 

 and noisily jostled each other at the water once more. I noticed 

 more particularly a lovely little bird, with creamy claret-coloured 

 head and body and a red beak, and another, a larger one, 

 lustrous black, with yellow and bright red collar and head, 

 having a very long tail, apparently far too heavy to carry. There 

 were doves of every size ; green parakeets, with mauve collar 

 and long tail ; others with no tail at all ; blackbirds, with light 

 blue wings, shining in the sun in fact, as lovely an assembly 

 as ever one could wish to see. Then there was a rustle above, 

 and down came a long-tailed, white-whiskered monkey, the 

 pioneer of several others, or a brilliant lizard would rush over 

 the glowing rocks to seek the shelter of a cool crevice. Two 

 large vultures were busy picking at the skeleton of the elephant 

 higher up, while two others sat looking on half-asleep from a 

 rock above. Presently one of them majestically stalked towards 

 the water, very slowly, halting every now and then to recon- 

 noitre, evidently well aware that there was somebody about who 

 had no business to be there. He was a splendid fellow, with a 

 rich chocolate-coloured body, wings, and tail, and lighter 

 coloured ruff, bluish-grey neck, and light yellow bare head. 

 My slightest movement caused him to retire, but he soon 

 returned stealthily and slowly, as before peering towards me, 

 stopping as if undecided after every few steps, until at last thirst 

 overcame fear, and, plucking up courage, he eventually entered 

 the shallow basin, to the great disgust of the smaller fry, and 

 apparently enjoyed the draught thoroughly. At a smaller water- 

 hole some guinea-fowl were assembled, and at almost every little 

 excavation in the sand either bird or butterfly was at work. In 

 some of these small holes, where the water has become ex- 

 hausted, birds and other animals scratch away until it again 

 appears, or dig their beaks in as deeply as they can, to reach 

 the water, hidden only by a thin layer of sand perhaps. All 

 animals display wonderful sagacity in finding the place where it 



