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SAVAGE SUDAN 
terminal “tassel” naturally waved to and fro according- to 
the wind and the movements of the beast. 
Where the trees grew thicker—hence where one would 
less expect such a thing—a pair of bustards rose from the 
grass close by and I got them both as they dodged, 
woodcock-like, through the branches. They were velvety 
black beneath, with bold white splashings on wings, and 
were, if I remember aright, Hartlaub’s bustards. There 
occur, however, two species of lesser bustard in this 
region, Hartlaub’s and Lovat’s (of both of which we shot 
several), which may well be likened to Caesar and Pompey 
—“very much alike, especially Pompey.” They were 
both, however, excellent eating, as were also the francolins 
(Francolinus clappertoni ), which could always be found by 
the riverside at dawn and towards dusk. These francolins 
were strangely silent for their noisy tribe. I never heard 
them utter a note. Sandgrouse, on the other hand, were 
distinctly clamant, springing with loud wing-clap and 
croaking harshly as they flew. We often fell in with 
packs of these —Pterocles quadricinctus —on the dry grass 
prairies inset amidst forest and far back from the river. 
No living creature fears the kite. He is a regular 
parasite, attending every camp and kill, ready to snatch 
up' morsels from the midst of the men ; but never (save 
once) have I seen him attack a living thing or seize a 
scrap too big to carry off. On one occasion, Lynes, 
having carefully preserved and labelled a “cut-throat 
finch,” laid it out to dry on a chop-box within a yard of 
his elbow. Instantly down swept a kite and away went 
the cherished specimen. We had the mortification to see 
the white label fluttering from his talons while the thief 
vainly bent his head down to tear the flesh—he found 
only cotton-wool! 
The one exception mentioned was equally amusing. 
A grass-fire had burned down to the river’s edge and 
leaping flames blazed and crackled in the fringing papyrus, 
causing consternation amongst the swarming bats that 
