214 INSECTS 



year obtains its sustenance in the midst of the 

 driest plains, just as at others he is a sure find on 

 the banks of our rivers. He has been called the 

 "Crocodile's Friend," as explained in a previous 

 chapter, not only because of his friendly warning 

 to the slumbering saurian of the approach of any 

 hostile influence, but also from the useful and kindly 

 services which during sleep he is said to perform, 

 in removing from between the crocodile's teeth 

 such morsels of his diet as may have lodged be- 

 tween them. I have heard this statement as often 

 made as contradicted, but whether true or not it 

 is not one which is distinguished by any particular 

 superfluity of attractiveness. 



In addition to the birds hereinbefore enumerated, 

 there are many more which I have perforce over- 

 looked from considerations of space, and doubtless 

 more still whose classification in the ornithological 

 groups of contemporary scientists is as yet unac- 

 comphshed ; but I fancy I have written sufficient 

 to assure those of my readers in whose minds 

 doubt may have been awakened as to the exist- 

 ence of a very diversified local Avi-fauna, that 

 Zambezia, among other African regions, possesses 

 no mean claims to consideration, and merits closer 

 examination. 



In the portion of South-East Africa which gives 

 its name to this book, one's admiration constantly 

 goes out to the many families of beautiful butter- 

 flies spread throughout the length and breadth of 

 the land. Some of these appear singly, as in the 

 better watered localities, where their thirst is easily 



