196 
EASTERN ETHIOPIA 
XV 
The hyrax eats the bark of trees, young shoots, and 
grass. Some conies live in trees, and it has been 
suggested that they should be ranked in a special 
genus, Dendohyrax. These arboreal forms are able to 
run up the tall juniper and other trees, and disappear in 
the holes in their trunks, or hide in the clefts of big 
branches. They are very active and make a great 
noise at night : and for this reason have been called 
gnomes of the primeval forest.’’ 
On one occasion we pitched our camp at Molo (8,000 
feet above sea level) near a piece of thick forest; a few 
hours after sunset the tree conies made a tremendous 
noise, hissing and squealing for two hours or more. It 
surprised me, because I was ignorant that they made 
any noise and it equally astonished me to learn that 
they are nocturnal animals, and can readily climb trees ! 
In describing the zoological results of the Ruwenzori 
Expedition, 1905-6, Wroughton states that the hyrax 
was found in swarms at an altitute of 10,000 feet 
on Ruwenzori. The animals frequented the cliffs and 
caves of the tree-heath zone. “They made weird 
and extraordinary noises in a weird and extraordinary 
place.” These noises are undoubtedly responsible for 
the Ruwenzori “ghost-story.” 
The natives catch large numbers of them in snares, 
and the skins are sent in great numbers to Europe, 
especially since they have come into fashion for making 
waistcoats and lining motor-coats. 
The water of Lake Nakuru is brackish : this makes it 
attractive to many birds, especially ducks and flamingoes, 
and many mammals, for they will traveLmany miles to 
a salt-lick. 
Amoimst the immense numbers of birds which visit 
O 
this lake I was able to recognise flamingoes, ducks, 
geese, swallows, bee-eaters, colies, shrikes, guinea fowl, 
avocets, stilts, herons, wagtails, saddle-billed storks, 
ibises, screaming plovers, vultures, hawks, eagles, 
bustards, secretary birds, and quails. An attractive 
