248 
ON SAFARI 
chooses the higher ground for its winter quarters, 
although I noticed a single common hoopoe at Sultan 
Hamud on March 22. An allied family, the wood- 
lioopoes ( Irrisor ), birds of dark plumage shot with 
brilliant metallic reflections, and with long cuneate tails, 
were also noticeable here, and remarkable for the scansorial 
powers they have developed. Twice we observed them 
LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER ( CoracidS CCLUdatUS). 
A study in vivid blues, greens and chestnut. 
climbing on tree-trunks in search of insects, quite like 
woodpeckers, as sketched on p. 243. These are noisy 
birds, attracting one’s attention far away in the bush, 
and then, when disturbed, flying off with discordant cries. 
Doves and green pigeons ( Vinago) abounded. 
It is, of course, impossible even roughly to describe 
the bird-life of a wide region on so brief an experience 
as ours—especially when, during our short sojourn, birds 
formed but a secondary object. Still one has always 
