NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
17 $ 
even as I looked, a bank of fog rolled between and completely 
blotted it from view. 
A tremendous chatter, like that in the parrot house at the 
Zoo, announced to me that a large flock of parrots were in the 
vicinity, so I wended my way in the direction of a clump of 
very tall trees whence the cries came. I could just make out 
the birds, many of them swinging head downwards to reach 
the bunches of berries on which they were feasting. Small 
flocks of four or five would leave the tree and circle round like 
pigeons before again alighting. The fight was so bad that, 
though I was directly under them, I only saw the colour on one 
bird which came very close. The head was scarlet and the 
body green, which I think places it as Poecephalus massaicus , 
but it is doubtful. This was the first time I had seen parrots 
in a wild state. 
I found the only other path down, and, on reaching lower 
levels, found the sun shining cheerfully. When I reached the 
house I found my host just beginning to think I had lost the 
way, which would have been extremely easy. In clearing forest 
a native disturbed and killed a fine female puff adder ( Bitis 
arietans) measuring 8 feet 6J inches. As I came on the scene 
shortly after and the specimen was undamaged, I carried it off. 
The only other reptile seen was the two-fined skink, of which I 
saw several. 
With the exception of cicadas, insects were scarce ; these* 
however, were very abundant and made a terrific din. As 
mentioned before, they harmonise in the most wonderful 
manner with the bark of the wild ‘ olive,’ which is rugged and 
lichen-covered. They are very hard to catch, and have to be 
stalked most elaborately. 
Another common insect was a large oil-beetle with red 
blotches on the elytra ; unfortunately these fade when the 
creature is dead. I found them eating out the bases of some 
papilionaceous blossoms to get at the nectar ; they were also 
common on roses. In a bush was the papery-muddy nest of 
an ant, into which I stuck my stick. The way the creatures 
swarmed out was a caution to behold, and within a few seconds 
or about a minute every leaf was a- quiver with them. On the 
previous day I must have brushed against some foliage, for I 
