434 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
and the latter danger-signal not the most sedulous care can 
conceal. 
While traversing the naked sands of the desert, a company 
of these finch-larks may startle the wanderer by suddenly 
springing underfoot from nothing —like the stones of Deucalion. 
At once a suspicion of “ colour-protection ” suggests itself; yet 
the idea fails to materialise when brought to the test. Those 
birds had simply caught us napping. Not even an ornithologist 
can be for ever intently scanning a void of sun-scorched sand. 
But mark them down and then stroll past their new position. 
Truly the deception is masterly, a triumph of Nature’s art. 
“Protection that fails to Protect.” 
Each bird squats flat in a tiny furrow; each washed-out mantle 
corresponds, to a shade with the sand flush alongside it—one 
almost descries sand-ripples reflected on coverts and scapulars. 
But there the deception fails; for a velvet-black head and 
snow-white cheeks reveal the little skulker’s secret. Besides, 
the next “ornithologist” to come along will be of the kind 
with piercing eye and ready talon that misses nothing—the 
desert-harrier (Circus pallidus). Admittedly it is a great effort, 
and should any reader regard my case as unproven, let him 
inscribe Pyrrhulauda on the slate. For myself I cannot accept 
“ Protection ” that just fails to protect. 
Where, in the outer desert, fancy suggests that the limits 
of all life have been left behind, you encounter the big bifasciated 
desert-lark ( Certhilauda ), in colour sandier than the sand itself; 
