NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
17B 
Some of the cicadas were peculiar. I shook a sapling and 
something fell in the grass which, after taking a look at it, X was 
satisfied was nothing but a piece of lichen. Later, elsewhere I 
heard a sudden chirp, and looking down saw a similar piece of 
lichen animatedly endeavouring to escape between the grass 
stalks ; on capturing, it proved to be a cicada. The noise they 
make in the trees is quite deafening. 
On May 29, and again to-day, I came across some oil-beetles 
with a scarlet patch upon them feeding on the Cucumis plants. 
There were about eight to a plant on both days, and none on the 
surrounding plants. The interesting thing was that the large 
females were being followed up and down leaf or stem by 
smaller males, who stroked them from the elytra to the end 
of the abdomen with their antennae. Both antennae would be 
raised simultaneously and stroked caressingly. It was almost 
ridiculous to see the larger beetles walking off or feeding with 
their devoted attendant. 
June 5. — Out on the plains I found some twenty-five eggs, 
but will only mention that of Quelea cardinalis, a handsome 
little weaver finch with a rosy throat and forebreast. This 
nest is built in the low Cucumis plants, and two or three of the 
prickly leaves are drawn together, one sheltering it from above 
and two forming a cup to hold the open nest. In one nest 
there were three eggs of a dirty olive green colour, and in the 
second nest a similar but deserted egg. 
June 9. — On May 17 I got a fellow- boarder to shoot his dog, 
a large brown retriever, which was raw and sore with ticks 
and mange. Visiting the site of the execution to-day, nothing 
but bones remained and a trace of fur, amongst which were 
some repulsive beetles like the English Silpha, who, on being 
disturbed, tuck up their heads and legs very compactly. What 
I wished to remark on, however, was that of the score of speci- 
mens that I took, more than half had some part of their limbs 
missing. The Dermestes vuljpinus mentioned previously were 
also present, and rolled on their backs as described. 
June 26. — Receiving an invitation to visit the Mission at 
Kijabe, I caught the night train yesterday, and arrived at 1.45 
a.m. Kijabe is 6990 feet above sea level, therefore nearly 1500 
feet higher than Nairobi. At the back of the station is a long 
