MICE AND RATS 
213 
CH. IX] 
and much-ornamented Kikuyus. The fireman wore a 
blue bead chain on one ankle, a brass armlet on the 
opposite arm, a belt of short steel chains, a dingy 
blanket (no loin-cloth), and a skull-cap surmounted, by 
a plume of ostrich feathers. The two Kikuyus were 
unconsciously entertaining companions. Without any 
warning, they would suddenly start a song or chant, 
usually an impromptu recitative of whatever at the 
moment interested them. They chanted for half an 
hour over the feat of the 44 Bwana Makuba ” (great 
master or chief—my name) in killing the hippo, laying 
especial stress upon the quantity of excellent meat it 
would furnish and how very good the eating would be. 
Usually one would improvise the chant and the other 
join in the chorus. Sometimes they would solemnly 
sing complimentary songs to one another, each in turn 
chanting the manifold good qualities of his companion. 
Around this camp were many birds. The most note¬ 
worthy was a handsome grey eagle owl, bigger than 
our great horned owl, to which it is closely akin. It 
did not hoot or scream, its voice being a kind of grunt, 
followed in a second or two by a succession of similar 
sounds, uttered more quickly and in a lower tone. 
These big owls frequently came round camp after dark, 
and at first their notes completely puzzled me, as I 
thought they must be made by some beast. The bul¬ 
buls sang well. Most of the birds were in no way like 
our home birds. 
Loring trapped quantities of mice and rats, and it 
was curious to see how many of them had acquired 
characters which caused them superficially to resemble 
American animals with which they had no real kinship. 
The sand rats that burrowed in the dry plains were in 
shape, in colour, eyes, tail, and paws strikingly like our 
