346 
BIRDS AT SIKKLONIANI. 
11, 12 July, 
beneath it was of a ferrugineous, or rust-color. The wing-feathers 
were black, with a white midrib. The tail was short and of the same 
color as the back ; the feet, covered with an ochre-colored wool ; the 
toes, edged with a narrow membrane ; the nails, black ; and the 
irides, narrow and yellow, or of the color of ' Roman ochre.' The 
colors of both sexes were alike. This bird, which was seen no 
where but in the Bichuana countries, frequents the fountains, only 
to drink ; but at other times it is an inhabitant of the open plains. 
The purple hoopoe * was also procured here, and afterwards at 
Litakun ; which gave me an opportunity of learning its singular 
name, Nuenjdnni Chukuru (Rhinoceros-bird) ; though I could get no 
clear explanation of the reason why it was so called. The Egyptian 
goose f was also shot at Sikkloniani ; together with the crimson- 
billed duck \^ here called Sihurri ; the large coot § ; and the armed 
plover. II This last is a very noisy bird ; by night, as well as by day, 
uttering a sharp cry which was fancied to articulate the words 
Brother Keevit ! Brother Keevit ! Its name in the Sichuana language, 
is, Letdjan (Letaryan). The groves around this spring abound also 
in pintadoes. 
In the neighbourhood of this water, there resided an old 
Bachapin, who, as soon as he heard of our arrival, paid us, or rather 
our pot, a visit, which lasted as long as we stopped at the place. His 
miserable, dirty, and meagre appearance bespoke the same degree 
of poverty which was exhibited by the two Bachapins whom we met 
on first entering their land. Like them, he too was herdsman ; not 
to the late, but to the present, chief of Litakun. 
I could not but be struck by this coincidence ; and as similar 
observations were afterwards made, it formed the subject of further 
inquiry, in order to gain some satisfactory explanation. Such ex- 
planations are not easily obtained among this people ; and this dif- 
ficulty is occasioned, partly by the questions being unusual and 
* Upupa purpurea^ B. 
§ Vol. 1. p. 263. 
•j- Anas jEgyptiaca. \ Anas erythrarhyncha, 
II Charadt ius armatus, B. 
