EXPERIENCES IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 723 
especially, with little yellow and white star like flowers falling 
in a small cascade of colour being lovely ; unfortunately the 
three 01 four plants of this species which I brought home with 
me died. A loud, clear, ringing note had been claiming our 
attention for some time, and we had vainly searched for its 
owner in the densely tall thick trees, with which the hill-side 
was covered ; presently I saw a flash of crimson and green, 
and I shot my first crimson-winged Louri or Turacoa (Corv- 
thaix porphyreolopha ) , these birds are about the size of a Wood 
Pigeon, and with a most extraordinary appearance, with 
mop-like crests of brilliant metallic blue and green, loose 
fluffy plumage and long flirting tails, on each wing is a broad 
band of bright crimson which makes them very conspicuous 
when they fly ; their shrill screaming note resembles that of 
a woman in pain, and they are most troublesome birds to the 
hunter, for should one of these birds perceive a human being, 
it raises an outcry that very quickly brings up any other 
Louris within hearing, all vying with each other in strident 
clamour. Any game within half-a-mile at once decamps. 
We had now got more than half way up the nearest hill and 
were much impeded by the long Elephant Grass out of 
which we were continually flushing covies of Spur Fowl or 
Francolin (Pternistes infuscaius), while tiny little Antelopes 
called “ Dik-dik," which were not much bigger than Hares, 
sprang up from under our very feet and dashed away in 
a series of enormous bounds. 
The view from the top of the hill amply repaid any 
difficulties we had had in getting up; to our left, stretched out 
a flat bit of the Athi Plains, covered with moving herds of 
Hartebeestes and Gazelles, in front, miles upon miles of 
small rocky hills, covered with bush, beyond them a range 
of blue undulating mountains and in the farthest distance, 
standing clearly defined against the azure sky, snow-capped 
Killimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, and even though it 
was a hundred miles away, in that marvellously clear air, 
one could almost see the snow sparkling in the sunlight and 
every ravine and shoulder seemed to be wonderfully distinct : 
I sat down and became lost in thought while gazing at the 
3 B 
VOL. VIII. 
