294 
IN THE ZAMBESI VALLEY. 
the Zambesi when the waters rise ; the 
large white pelican, appearing in flocks 
of three hundred at a time, in long, un- 
dulating lines ; clouds of a black, shell- 
eating bird, called linongolo;* besides 
snipes, plovers, herons, and curlews in- 
numerable. 
Some of the rarer varieties would delight 
the heart and eye of an ornithologist. As, 
for instance, the graceful white ardetta, 
which settles on the backs of buffaloes, and, 
when they run, follows them with rapid 
wing ; the kala,-f- which sits on the withers 
when the animal is careering at full speed; 
and the strange scizzor-bill, with snowy 
breast, jet-black coat, and scarlet-red beak, 
which perches on the sunny sand-banks, and 
takes his ease. He makes his nest in this 
exposed locality, without the slightest attempt 
at concealment ; but keeps close watch 
over it, scaring away the marabouts and 
crows by feigned attacks on their 
heads. He changes his tactics on 
the approach of a human intruder, 
and, like the ostrich and the lap- 
wing,! allowing one wing to drop, 
limps with one leg as if lame. Owing 
to tlie extreme shortness of the upper 
compared with the lower mandible, 
the young require to have every- 
thing conveyed to their mouths by 
their parents. The lower mandible 
* Annstomas lamdligerus. t Textor enjtkrorlnjnchus. 
t " Far from her nest the lapwinj cries away." 
Sqakespeake. 
