464 HORNET'S ELECTRICITY. 



This peculiar tinge of the atmosphere was observed 

 every winter at Kolobeng, but it was not so observable 

 In Ironda as in the south, though I had always considered 

 that it was owing to the extensive burnings of the grass, 

 in which hundreds of miles of pasturage are annually 

 consumed. As the quantity burnt in the north is very 

 much greater than in the south, and the smoky tinge 

 of winter was not observed, some other explanation than 

 these burnings must be sought for. I have sometimes 

 imagined that the lowering of the temperature in the 

 winter, rendered the vapour in the upper current of air 

 visible, and imparted this hazy appearance. 



The amount of organic life is surprising. At the time 

 the river begins to rise, the Ibis religiosa comes down in 

 flocks of fifties, with prodigious numbers of other water- 

 iowl. Some of the sandbanks appear whitened during the 

 day with flocks of pelicans — I once counted three hundred ; 

 others are brown with ducks {Anas histrionica) — I got four- 

 teen of these by one shot (Querquedula Hottentota, Smith), 

 and other kinds. Great numbers of gulls (Procellaria 

 turtur, Smith), and several others, float over the surface. 

 The vast quantity of small birds, which feed on insects, 

 shows that the river teems also with specimens of minute 

 organic life. In walking among bushes on the banks, we 

 are occasionally stung by a hornet which makes its nest 

 in form like that of our own wasp, and hangs it on the 

 branches of trees. The breeding aropyr) is so strong 

 in this insect, that it pursues any one twenty or thirty 

 yards who happens to brush too closely past its nest. 

 The sting, which it tries to inflict near the eye, is 

 more like a discharge of electricity from a powerful 

 machine, or a violent blow, than aught else. It pro- 

 duces momentary insensibility, and is followed by the 

 most pungent pain. Yet this insect is quite timid when 

 away from its nest. It is named Murotuani by the 

 Bechuanas. 



We have tsetse between Nameta and Sekhosi. An 

 insect of prey, about an inch in length, long-legged and 

 gaunt-looking, may be observed flying about and 

 lighting upon the bare ground. It is a tiger in its way, 

 for it springs upon tsetse and other flies, and, sucking out 

 their blood, throws the bodies aside. 



Long before reaching Sesheke, we had been informed 

 that a party of Ma'tebele, the people of Mosilekatse, had 



