158 
A NATURAL HISTORY EXPEDITION 
information given by Mr. A. J. Klein, who had visited this 
region 4 about the middle of August,’ at which season there 
were apparently ‘ large young ones in the nests.’ 
July 15, 1915. — Rising about 5 a.m., I breakfasted, and 
then packed my bedding, &c., and started my boy Cumow 
off to the station as 7 a.m. I left at the same time myself 
for the Museum, where I filled a portmanteau with scalpels, 
preservatives for skinning, and all necessary materials for 
entomological collecting. At 7.80 Kinangozi — the Museum 
skinner — started with this bag to the station. Finishing 
off a few matters and straightening up occupied me for nearly 
half an hour longer, so that I arrived at the station exactly 
at 8 a.m. We were to travel in the guard’s van of a goods 
train due to leave at 8.30, but, as a matter of fact, we did not 
get off till something after 9.30. 
Very leisurely did the train move along, and I spent some 
time sitting on the step and watching the scenery, and at 
times one could well have jumped out and run alongside. 
I saw a fine black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) by a fence 
of the Government Veterinary Farm, Kabete. We did not 
get off at Kijabe, as originally planned, but arranged to be 
dropped ten miles further up by the track. It was a veritable 
‘ No Man’s Land ’ where we got out, and after wishing the 
guard good-bye, we did not see another man, white or black, 
for four days (except one native on the fourth). The soil 
was very sandy and scattered over with mimosa and thorn 
bushes ; what little grass there was was dry and yellow. 
Some two hundred yards away from the line we could see 
some Coke’s hartebeest (Alcela'phus Cokei kongoni), and in 
following these up I came upon a very fine cast skin of a hissing 
sand snake (Psammo'phis sibilans). We marched for about 
two hours towards Lake Naivasha, and pitched camp some 
three miles south of it. After a cup of tea we followed up a 
big herd of kongoni near the camp, and my companion, Mr. A. 
G. Bush, shot one for the porters to eat ; including the two 
gun-bearers, headman, and cook, there were thirty of these 
fellows to be provided for. We had to hurry back to reach camp 
before dark, and on the way I picked off two cicadas who were 
shrilling away on a shrub. 
