112 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Here is a description of the Great Karroo, a vast uncultivated 

 plain, stretching away in all directions as far as the eye can reach, 

 except only towards the west, where frowns the sombre range of 

 the Nieuveldt mountains : — 



" The whole expanse presented to the eye shows only a great 

 plain of cracked mud, and stunted bushes about a foot high. But 

 presently one discovers that these stunted bushes are, in fact, the 

 favourite sustenance of Springbuck. ... In the scattered bush- 

 lands, too, on the verge of this district, live the graceful Koodoos, 

 along with their enemies the Lion and the Leopard ; and, though 

 to-day but a remnant remains of countless herds, there is still 

 plenty of attraction for the naturalist and sportsman. 



" Numerous troops of Springbuck may be met with ; a Stein- 

 buck may here and there be seen ; also the Silver and Long- 

 eared Jackals ; whilst hundreds of Meercats burrow in the 

 ground or live in the holes of the Aardvark. Even to-day the 

 Cheetah, or Hunting Leopard, follows the herds of the Spring- 

 buck like a shadow ; whilst in the adjoining mountains the 

 Leopard devotes his attention mainly to the scattered troops of 

 Vaal and Roi Rhebuck, Baboons, and Klipspringers. 



" The birds of this portion of South Africa are, however, 

 more interesting and numerous than the mammals. In small 

 parties the graceful Stanley Crane stalks along the bare ground 

 in search of locusts, its exquisite French-grey colouring con- 

 trasting strongly with the brown earth ; and at sunset its hoarse 

 trump may be heard as the flocks wing their flight to some 

 solitary spot far in the heart of the desert, where they can pass 

 the night without fear of disturbance. Moving in a string across 

 the sky, they give the last touch to a scene of splendour such as 

 only the Karroo can show. 



" Here on the plains may be seen that most interesting 

 creature the Secretary-bird, plodding along in his thoroughly 

 business-like manner, — a large raptorial bird, slate and white as 

 to colour, and quite unique in all his movements as he walks 

 about in search of food. ... As to his alleged snake-killing 

 exploits, I think he is a bit of a fraud. No doubt he does 

 occasionally kill these reptiles, but the true poisonous snakes 

 are rare in the open lands of the Colony, Free State, and Lower 

 Transvaal, where these birds are mostly found, and where their 

 depredations are known to be very great amongst the young of 



