366 
EASTERN ETHIOPIA 
XXIX 
crested crane owing to its beautiful plumage, and though 
they eat almost anything, forbid their people eating this 
beautiful bird. 
Some of the shrikes in East Africa are furnished with 
a crest, which differs from that possessed by most 
birds, for it extends along the front of the head 
to the base of the beak. The top-knot in the Helmet- 
shrike resembles the horse-hair plume in the crest of 
a Grecian helmet. The crest and plume were probably 
added to the helmet in order to make the soldiers look 
terrible to their enemies in time of war and appear more 
handsome to their friends in time of peace. This 
same feelinsf animates all savao^e races. The Masai 
O _ O 
to this day wear extraordinary head-dresses made of 
ostrich feathers, or of the mane of a lion, so that they 
may terrify their enemies when on the war path. 
The feathery crest or top-knot is useful to birds: 
they use it for fascinating hens and terrifying enemies. 
