PECULIAR INTERRELATIONS 125 



from the more tender hides of these animals the birds caused 

 wounds, and at the same time gained a taste for blood, with 

 the result that, where horses and cattle are at all numerous, 

 they become severely persecuted by these birds, who now 

 seek, not so much to prey upon the ticks as the hosts thereof, 

 which suffer considerably in consequence. Thus we see how 

 easily long-rooted habits may become changed, and how an 

 originally useful instinct may become depraved. The tough 

 hide of the rhinoceros was proof against the beaks of these 

 birds, and consequently nothing but good resulted from their 

 presence, but, as we have shown, a very different state of things 

 began when the hides of the imported domesticated animals 

 became subjected to a similar inspection. On account of the 

 damage they do the restrictions imposed by Government for 

 their protection have now been removed, but the Oxpecker 

 will doubtless long contrive to hold his own in this vast country. 

 The work of the Rhinoceros-bird in England is performed by 

 the Common Starling, and so far no harm to cattle has been 

 done by reason of injuries inflicted on the hides. Similarly, 

 in East Africa, Egrets swarm over the bodies of elephants 

 when they approach the neighbourhood of water, apparently, 

 as it has been suggested, for the sake of capturing the various 

 kinds of insects put up by the elephants as they move about. 

 In like manner the Rosy Bee-eater {Merops nubicus) in East 

 Africa is described by Mr. Arthur Neumann as habitually 

 riding about " on the back of the large crested Bustard or 

 'Pauw' {Eupodotis kort) which is common about the north- 

 east extremity of Bassu. It sits far back on the rump of its 

 mount, as a boy rides a donkey. The Pauw does not seem to 

 resent this liberty, but stalks majestically along, while its bril- 

 liantly clad little jockey keeps a lookout, sitting sideways, and 

 now and again flies up after an insect it has espied, returning 

 again after the chase to ' its camel ' as Juma [his native servant] 

 not inaptly called it. ... I have also noticed this pretty little 

 bird sitting on the backs of goats, sheep and antelopes, but the 

 Pauw seems its favourite steed. I imagine it gets more flights 

 in this way at game put up by its bearer, which also affords it 

 a point of vantage whence to sight and pursue its prey in a 

 country where suitable sticks to perch on are few." 



Much more curious are the associations formed by birds 



