THE MOTLOUTSI. 
27 
drank, and which the grouse resorted to. The sand 
around it was covered with feathers of birds, 
" Sunset scene very lovely. In the foreground, 
brown bushes. Two little violet kopjes appear 
against the sky, behind one of which the sun has set. 
A lovely rose hue, deepest around the position of 
the sun, is on the horizon ; this fades into violet, and 
this again into a pale greenish blue. Some very 
DOUBLE-BANDED SAND-GROUSE. — Pteroclcs biducUlS. 
small, clearly defined, deep violet clouds, edged with 
gold, stand out from the sky. 
'' Aiigust 2id. — Before daybreak the little sand- 
grouse were flying round, and a few settled to drink. 
I did not disturb them. The Motloutsi is a large 
river, with a very sandy bed, and here and there 
large rocks, and a twisting course. Hendrik says 
all these sandy rivers become dry or nearly so in 
winter. Both yellow and cream-coloured acacia 
