ANNESLEY HAY— FAUNA. 13 



alha and Budytes melanocepJiala), white-breasted crows 

 {Corvus scapulatus), kites {Milvus migrans), the small 

 red-headed vulture {Neophron inleatus), and the scavenger 

 vulture {N. percnopterus). A little green bee-eater 

 {Merops viridissimus), very closely resembling the bird 

 so abundant in India, was common in the mangroves on 

 the shore ; and at the hot spring of Atzfut I obtained the 

 handsome red 31. nubicus. The shore abounded with 

 guUs {Larus fuscus, L. Hemprichii, L. leucophthalmus, 

 &c.), pelicans (P. phillipensis), terns of several species, 

 ring plovers, curlews, egrets, stints, and sandpipers, and 

 flocks of Dromas ardeola were not uncommon. It will 

 not a little surprise an ornithologist to observe that 

 several of the birds mentioned are comparatively rare 

 species, much less known than those of the less accessible 

 Abyssinian highlands. 



Farther inland, amongst the thorny acacia trees, 

 the fauna was more varied. A most lovely little 

 Nectarinia {N. habessinica, H. and E.) was fre- 

 quently seen, but at this season was the only species 

 met with. The red-breasted bush shrike (Laniarius 

 cruentatus), the long-tailed robin {Cercotrichas erythrop- 

 terus), the black-tailed chat {Cercomela melanura), a 

 weaver bird {Hyphantornis galhula), and two species 

 of avadavats {Pytelia citerior and Estrelda rhodopyga), 

 were some of the kinds most frequently seen. 



Mammals were not numerous. Hyaenas were con- 

 stantly heard at night ; they frequently came into the 

 camp, and occasionally attacked the mules. I never saw 

 one close to the coast in daylight, but I believe that the 



