Chapter VIII: Nature Notes

It would be difficult to picture East Africa without her vivid abundance of Nature, for it is “the creatures of the earth” that for ever astonish all who enter this country of vast wildernesses and few habitations of white men.

In this connection I will endeavour to describe some of the forms of wild life that were most closely associated with camp and trek during the campaign.

[Sidenote: NATIVES OF EAST AFRICA]

To begin with, if I may bring them into the category of wild things, there were the natives of the country—who aided us tremendously during the campaign, and without whose aid it would have been well-nigh impossible for our columns to traverse the country. Broadly speaking, we had to deal with four distinct types of native—the Swahili-speaking tribes, the Kavirondos, the Kikuyus, and the Masai. The Swahili-speaking natives, whose tribes were numerous and included such fighting peoples as the Whahamba, Diruma, and Nandi, were most generally recruited from the coast areas; they were the most intelligent and adaptable natives in our service. Many of them made splendid Askaris, while as trained porters, for machine-guns, signalling sections, and stretcher-bearers, they were extremely useful, and many thousands were utilised for such work. Those natives were extraordinarily keen on their drills—in which they were daily instructed, whenever opportunity arose, to ensure combined movement without confusion, and quick obedience to orders—and it was a common thing to see them, after a parade had been dismissed, continue their drill within their own lines, under the direction of one of their enthusiastic headmen. They were simple, good-natured people, those blacks, and very easy to deal with if one took the trouble to understand them and their language, and ruled with a strong yet considerate hand. But they were unfortunate, and at a loss, when they came under the charge of strangers who had not had opportunity to understand them or their language—which often occurred, owing to loss of experienced men through sickness or casualties, and their replacement by men freshly arrived in the country.

When we entered German territory many Swahili natives, of the inhabited districts we passed through, were hired by all ranks as personal servants, and thenceforth became followers of the column. Those were usually boys of from fifteen years to twenty-five years. They subsisted on any kind of diet, and often foraged for scraps in camp and for fruits in the bush, with much of the instinct of animals. Those who were ignorant were taught to cook, and to do the many little duties of body-servant; and were a great boon to trek-tired men when camp was reached and they were available to cut grass for the bed on the ground, fetch water, kindle camp fires, and help in the cooking of food.

The Kavirondos from the Lake District, and the Kikuyus from the Nairobi area, were used almost exclusively for carriers and camp cleaners, and were perhaps less intelligent than the average Swahili native, and of lower type. Nevertheless, some of them were very useful, and I have used picked men from both tribes as higher-grade machine-gun porters, and found them come very close to the standard of the good Swahili.

The warlike nomad Masai roamed the upland grass-lands of their great reserves and held aloof from warfare. Only as guides in the early days on the frontier were they of usefulness to our forces, and at that time they were often seen about our camps. They were remarkable for their knowledge of direction in a country of few apparent landmarks, and for the speed at which they could cover long distances, with their ungainly shuffling run.

[Sidenote: BIG GAME]

I turn now to the big game of the country.

I know no more interesting and wonderful sight than that we often witnessed, and that may be to-day witnessed, on the Kajiado Plains, and in the neighbourhood of the Guaso Nyero valley. Not even the wonderful migration of the vast bands of caribou in the far Canadian North can surpass the sight of game one will see here in a day. In a single day’s march herd after herd of game may be passed feeding plainly in view in the open grass veldt—herds of wildebeeste, hartebeeste, zebra, and Grant’s gazelle, are the most plentiful; and small groups of Thomson’s gazelle, oryx antelope, giraffe, and ostrich. While in the Guaso Nyero valley it may be your good fortune to sight a large herd of buffalo.

Eland antelope I only remember seeing in two localities—at Maktau on the frontier, and in the Rufiji valley.

Within German territory no such vast numbers of game were encountered: but that may have been because we did not again travel through open veldt of the same nature as contained the herds on the frontier. Most game, in German territory, were seen in the low-lying Mgeta and Rufiji valleys. At Tulo and Kissaki, some species of game were plentiful. At Tulo, reedbuck, waterbuck, mpala, and wart-hog were numerous, while a number of hippopotamus haunted the sluggish Mwuha River. At Kissaki, bushbuck, Harvey’s duiker, and wart-hog were the principal small game, while here, and out to the great Ruaha and Rufiji Rivers, the territory was renowned for elephant.

Elephant tracks, old and new, were everywhere in the neighbourhood of Kissaki, but animals were seldom seen, since they were very wary, and extraordinarily quick in scenting danger. If they detect human scent—which they will pick up a mile or more down-wind—they are at once alarmed and fast travel away from the danger, very often covering great distances before reassured that they have reached a zone of safety.

[Sidenote: HIPPOPOTAMUS, RHINOCEROS]

At the Rufiji River a remarkable number of hippopotamus were seen. North of Kibambawe village there is a chain of lakes no great distance apart, and I have passed one of those lakes, Lake Tágalala, when there have been scores of hippo, visible in the water. I should think the marsh-banked Rufiji River throughout its course teems with those strange, cumbersome, uncomely animals.

Rhinoceros were perhaps most plentiful on the frontier, and were often encountered when patrolling the thick bush, or bush-covered hill-country. During the many times I have met those animals at close quarters—and I have stumbled across as many as four separate animals in a single night when on particular reconnaissance—I have never known them to charge seriously when not wounded. I have experienced them rush straight on to the sound of a stick crackling underfoot, but, when they drew close and got my wind, they veered off instantly to one side, and escaped in the bush rapidly and fearfully. I remarked my experiences to Selous, for they were not what I had been led to expect, and he corroborated them by saying that he also had never seen one charge a man when unmolested.

Selous, too, in discussing lions, in his quiet, practical way, laid very little stress on the dangers of hunting those animals. He said there was little danger of their ever venturing to attack unless wounded, and then the greatest danger was in going into long grass to search for an animal that in all probability would be lying there concealed, and at bay, and ready to spring on an over-hasty pursuer. Selous’s advice was that, “in hunting lions you should try to get a clean clear shot at your quarry, at fairly close quarters, and to shoot to kill with your first shot.” “Don’t attempt snapshots and wild shooting, which only lead to a bad hit, and a dangerous lion at bay to be dealt with.”

The eerie roar of lions was often heard at night outside our camps, or near to the bivouac of a lonely outpost, and sometimes, through the day, they were seen by our outlying pickets; but I only know of three being shot by members of our battalion during our service in East Africa.

[Sidenote: BIRD LIFE]

I turn now to the bird life of the country. In the bush, in the neighbourhood of water, birds, of various kinds, were often plentiful, and were remarkable, as a rule, for their brilliant plumage. But they were seldom conspicuous in numbers in the open, for, as a rule, they kept closely within the cover of the bush and jungle grass; and on this account I have often heard unobservant men remark on how little bird life they saw during the campaign in East Africa. Their unobtrusiveness, too, was added to by the fact that very few African birds are songsters.

I think the bird most commonly seen throughout the campaign was the Red-eyed Turtle Dove (_Streptopelia semitorquata_), and their soft cooing in the quiet evenings was certainly the outstanding note of bird life in the country. It is a truly African sound—a sound which one who has heard it will always associate with African fantasy—and which sometimes strikes the ear as most pleasant and soothing, and, at other times, haunts you with its persistent hint of native sadness.

A more remarkable call, but only heard in certain localities, was the strange bottle-bubbling echoing call of the Lark-heeled Cuckoo—a largish partridge-barred brown bird with a long tail—which was usually uttered at dark, or through the night, by a lone bird perched somewhere on the topmost twig of an outstanding bush or tree, sending his soft note-clear call out over the ocean of misty leaf-tops; where it would be picked up and responded to by another like sentinel at some other distant signal-post.

The most common bird to enter our encampments was the White-necked Raven, a bird similar in habit and colour to the British Rook, but with a large white mark on the nape of the neck. He was the chief scavenger of our camps, though, sometimes, he was ably aided by the Egyptian Kite, one, or a pair, of which species was commonly with us.

Common varieties of the neat little mouse-like Waxbills were, on occasions when we were near to permanent habitations, the only “sparrows” to visit camp.

In odd hours, when the chance occurred, I, and one or two others who became interested, collected some specimens of bird life, chiefly with catapult and trap, in the absence of better weapons, and, notwithstanding the difficulties of storage and transport of the skins, at the end of the campaign had secured the specimens below recorded; which, along with a collection of butterflies, eventually, by purchase, passed into the magnificent collection in Lord Rothschild’s museum at Tring, where such splendid scientific research in world-wide zoology is being extensively and actively prosecuted.

The correct nomenclature of all species has been very kindly formulated by Dr. E. J. O. Hartert, Director of the Tring Museum.

LIST OF SPECIES COLLECTED

Name of Species. Sex. Where Secured. Date. Reference
No.

WADERS

Plover, Ringed (_Charadrius
hiaticula hiaticula_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 25.10.15 30
Stilt (_Himantopus himantopus
himantopus_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 29.12.15 81
Sandpiper, Common (_Tringa
hypoleuca_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 27.9.15 12

HERONS, STORKS, ETC.

Hammerhead (_Scopus umbretta
bannermani_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 29.12.15 82
Heron, Buff-backed (_Bubulcus
ibis ibis_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 9.4.16 110

PIGEONS

Pigeon, Hartert’s Green (_Treron
calva brevicera_)
♀♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 12.4.16 115,
116
Pigeon, Rameron (_Columba arquatrix
arquatrix_)
♂♀ Kibosho, G.E.A. 1.5.16- 147,
5.5.16 150,
juv. ♀♂ 154, 155
Pigeon, Crimson-winged (_Turturoena
delegorguei harterti_)
♂ Kibosho, G.E.A. 7.5.16 160
Dove, Tamburine (_Tympanistria
tympanistria fraseri_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 16.4.16 128
” Red-eyed Turtle (_Streptopelia
semitorquata semitorquata_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 6.7.17 218

GAME BIRDS

Guinea-fowl, Crested (_Guttera
pucherani_)
♂ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 2.12.16 210

BIRDS OF PREY

Hawk, Lesser Barred (_Kaupifalco
monogrammicus
meridionalis_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 25.6.17 216
Eagle, African Crested (_Lophoaetus
occipitalis_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 23.12.15 78
” Steppe (_Aquila nipalensis
orientalis_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 30.11.16 209
Buzzard, Steppe (_Buteo buteo
rufiventris_ Jerd.
[= _anceps_, Brehm])
♂ ” 30.10.16 183
Falcon, African Lanner (_Falco
biarmicus biarmicus_)
♀ ” 14.11.16 196
Falcon, Pigmy (_Poliohierax
semitorquatus_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 7.11.15 45

OWLS

Owl, Great Eagle (_Bubo lacteus
lacteus_)
♀ Tulo, G.E.A. 26.9.16 171
” Spotted Eagle (_Bubo africanus
africanus_)
♂ Lindi, G.E.A. 7.7.17 219

PARROTS

Parrot, Meyer’s (_Poicephalus
meyeri_ Matschiei)
(Remarkable yellow
variety)
♀ Namanga, G.E.A. 2.3.16 85
” Brown-headed (_Poicephalus
fuscicapillus_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 9.7.17 221

PLANTAIN EATERS

Plantain Eater, White-bellied,
Grey (_Schizaerhis
leucogastra_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 22.12.15 77
” Hartlaub’s (_Turacus
hartlaubi_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 22.4.16 138

CUCKOOS

Cuckoo, Lark-heeled (_Centropus
superciliosus
superciliosus_)
♀ Bura, B.E.A. 16.11.15 49
” ”
♂ ” 14.12.15 69
Coucal, Southern Green
(_Centhmochares aereus
australis_)
♂ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 20.11.16 202
Cuckoo, Golden (_Chrysococcyx
caprius_ [= _cupreus
auct._])
♂♂ Bura, B.E.A. 18.11.15 50
14.12.15
” Klass’s Golden
(_Chrysococcyx klassi_)
♂ Lindi, G.E.A. 11.7.17 222

BARBETS

Barbet, Black-winged (_Lybius
melanopterus
melanopterus_)
♀♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 16.4.16 125-130
” Yellow-vented (_Lybius
torquatus irroratus_)
♀♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 15.11.16 197,
198
” Spotted-breasted
(_Tricholaema
stigmatothorax_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 19.9.15 3
” ”
♀♂ ” 27.9.15 10-11
” Pied (_Tricholaema
lacrymosum_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 3.4.16 95
Tinker, Small (_Barbatula pusilla
affinis_)
♀ Bura, B.E.A. 3.1.16 84
Barbet, Böhm’s (_Trachyphonus
darnaudi böhmi_)
♀♂ ” 11.12.15 57,
58
” White-cheeked (_Smilorhis
leucotis kilimensis_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 27.4.16 142

WOODPECKERS

Woodpecker, Bearded (_Mesopicos
namaquus_)
♀ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 20.11.16 203
” Masai Cardinal
(_Dendropicos guineensis
massaicus_)
♀? Moschi, G.E.A. 8.4.16 106
” Hartlaub’s Cardinal
(_Dendropicos guineensis
hartlaubi_)
♀ Kissaki, G.E.A. 9.11.16 192

COLIES

Coly, White-headed (_Colius
leucocephalus_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 1.11.15 36
” White-cheeked (_Colius
striatus affinis_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 12.12.15 62
” ”
♂♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 5.4.16 101,
8.4.16 108

ROLLERS

Roller, Lilac-breasted (_Coracias
caudatus caudatus_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 9.4.16 112
” Cinnamon African
(_Eurystomus afer
suahelicus_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 6.12.16 40
” ”
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 7.12.16 212

HORNBILLS

Hornbill, Crested (_Bycanistes
cristatus_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 30.4.16 145
” von der Decken’s
(_Lophoceros deckeni_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 31.10.15 32
” Crowned (_Lophoceros
melanoleucus suahelicus_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 1.5.16 149

KINGFISHERS

Kingfisher, Hooded (_Halcyon
leucocephala leucocephala_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 14.12.15 68
” Lesser Brown Hooded
(_Halcyon albiventris
orientalis_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 28.4.16 143
” Striped (_Halcyon
chelicuti_)
♂ Makindu, G.E.A. 29.7.16 167
” Painted (_Ispidina picta
picta_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 14.5.16 163
” Crested (_Corythornis
cristata_)
♂? Bura, B.E.A. 19.12.15 74

BEE-EATERS

Bee-eater, Little Yellow-throated
(_Melittophagus pusillus
cyanostictus_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 2.11.15 39
” Southern Little
Yellow-throated
(_Melittophagus pusillus
meridionalis_)
? Bura, B.E.A. 4.1.16 85
Bee-eater, Southern Little
Yellow-throated
(_Melittophagus pusillus
meridionalis_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 21.10.16 178
Bee-eater, Cinnamon (_Melittophagus
oreobates_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 28.4.16 144
” Olive-Green (_Merops
superciliosus_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 8.7.17 220

HOOPOES

Hoopoe, Wood (_Irrisor
erythrorhynchus marwitzi_)
♂ Lindi, G.E.A. 6.7.17 217

NIGHTJARS

Nightjar, Inornated (_Caprimulgus
inornatus_)
♀ Makindu, G.E.A. 5.12.15 55
” Fosse’s (_Caprimulgus
fossii fossii_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 12.7.17 223

SWIFTS

Swift, Palm (_Tachornis parvus
myochrous_)
♂ young Kissaki, G.E.A. 18.10.16 176

SWALLOWS

Swallow, Common European (_Hirundo
rustica rustica_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 31.10.16 31
” Lesser Stripe-Breasted
(_Hirundo puella_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 1.4.16 88
” ”
♀ ” 7.5.16 157
” Ermin’s Red-breasted
(_Hirundo emini_)
♂ ” 2.4.16 90
” Wire-tailed (_Hirundo
smithi smithi_)
♂ Kibosho, G.E.A. 21.4.16 137
” ”
♀ ” 1.5.16 148

FLYCATCHERS

Flycatcher, Neumann’s Scrub
(_Bradornis neumanni_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 7.11.15 46
” Mouse-coloured Scrub
(_Bradornis pallidus
murinus_)
♂ Makindu, G.E.A. 28.7.16 166
” Littoral Puff-backed
(_Batis molitor
littoralis_)
♀? Maktau, B.E.A. 7.11.15 47
” ”
♀ Bura, B.E.A. 12.12.15 64
” Puff-backed (_Batis molitor
puella_)
♀♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 15.4.16 121,
122
” Wattle-eyed (_Platysteira
peltata peltata_)
♀ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 21.11.16 207
” Suaheli Paradise (_Tchitrea
perspicillata suahelica_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 16.4.16 126

SHRIKES

Shrike, White-headed Crow
(_Eurocephalus rüppelli
deckeni_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 18.12.15 72
” Helmeted (_Sigmodus
retzii_)
♀ juv. Narunyu, G.E.A. 2.9.17 226
” Yellow-spotted Bush
(_Nicator gularis_)
♂ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 19.11.16 119
” Black-fronted Bush
(_Chlorophoneus
nigrifrons_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 19.4.16 141
” Red-breasted (_Rhodophoneus
cruentus cathemagmenus_)
♂♀ Makindu, G.E.A. 7.11.15 44-48
-18.11.15
” Sombre (_Laniarius funebris
funebris_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 18.9.15 2
” Lesser Sombre (_Laniarius
funebris degener_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 7.4.15 105
” Black-and-White Bush
(_Laniarius aethiopicus
aethiopicus_)
♂ ” 13.4.16 119
” Grey-headed Green
(_Malaconotus
poliocephalus approximans_)
♀ Lindi, G.E.A. 16.7.17 224
” Lesser Puff-backed
(_Dryoscopus cubla
suahelicus_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 9.4.16 111
” ”
♂ Makindu, G.E.A. 30.7.16 169
” Great African (_Lanius
cabanisi_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 24.10.15 29
” Fiscal (_Lanius collaris
humeralis_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 8.4.16 107
” Black-crowned Bush
(_Harpolestes senegalus
orientalis_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 18.11.15 52
” Lesser Three-streaked Bush
(_Harpolestes australis_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 6.11.16 185

DRONGOS

Drongo (_Dicrurus ater lugubris_)
♀ Makindu, G.E.A. 28.7.16 165

ORIOLES

Oriole, Lesser Black-headed
(_Oriolus larvatus
rolleti_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 3.5.16 151

STARLINGS

Starlings, White-bellied, Glossy
(_Cinnyricinclus
leucogaster verreauxi_)
♂♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 7.5.16 158,
159
” Stuhlman’s Lesser
Red-winged (_Stilbopsar
stuhlmanni_)
♂? ” 7.5.16 156

WEAVERS, WAXBILLS, WHYDAHS, ETC.

Weaver, Black-headed (_Ploceus
nigriceps_)
♂ Bura, B.E.A. 18.11.15 51
” Cabanis’ Yellow-Black
(_Ploceus melanoxanthus_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 7.11.15 43
” Golden (_Ploceus
aureoflavus aureoflavus_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 8.11.16 189
” Uniform Gros-beak
(_Amblyospiza unicolor_)
♀ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 21.11.16 205
Bishop, Red-crowned (_Pyremelana
flamiceps_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 15.10.16 172
Finch, Hooded Weaver (_Spermestes
scutata_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 18.4.16 133
Waxbill, White-spotted (_Hypargos
niveoguttatus_)
♀ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 19.11.16 200
Finch, Melba (_Pytelia melba_)
♂ Makindu, G.E.A. 30.7.16 168
” ” (or Kirk’s?)
(_Pytelia melba
belli_ [or _kirki_])
♀ juv. Kirengwe, G.E.A. 21.11.16 204
Waxbill, Mozambique (_Estrelda
astrilda cavendishi_)
♀ Kissaki, G.E.A. 22.10.16 181
” Little Ruddy
(_Lagonosticta
senegala ruberrima_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 18.4.16 136
” Violet-bellied
(_Uraeginthus
ianthinogaster hawkeri_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 6.10.15 17
” ”
♀ ” 1.11.15 35
” Bengali (_Uraeginthus
bengalus niassensis_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 18.10.16 177
” Northern Bengali
(_Uraeginthus bengalus
schoanus_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 26.4.16 140
Whydah, Pied Pintail (_Vidua
serena_)
♂ ” 16.4.16 129

FINCHES

Sparrow, Suaheli, Grey-headed
(_Passer griseus
suahelicus_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 4.4.16 97
” ”
♀ ” 17.4.16 131
Finch, Hartert’s Serin (_Serinus
maculicollis harterti_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 25.9.15 6
” Buchanan’s Serin (_Serinus
buchanani_)
♂ ” 18.9.15 1
” ”
♀ ” 9.10.15 26
Siskin, Spotted African (_Spinus
hypostictus_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 15.4.16 123
” ”
♂ ” 18.4.16 132

WAGTAILS AND PIPITS

Wagtail, African Pied (_Motacilla
vidua_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 3.4.16 92
” Long-tailed Pied
(_Motacilla clara_)
♂ ” 3.5.16 152
Pipit, Golden (_Tmetothylacus
tenellus_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 1.11.15 38

LARKS

Lark, Masai Sabota (_Mirafra
poecilosterna_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 15.10.15 24
” Foxy (_Mirafra alopex_)
♂ ” 19.10.15 25
” ”
♀ ” 31.10.15 33

BULBULS

Bulbul, Greater Green Forest
(_Andropadus insularis
insularis_)
♀ Kirengwe, G.E.A. 21.11.16 206
” Yellow-vented (_Pycnonotus
barbatus micrus_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 3.4.16 96
” ”
♀ ” 12.4.16 113

SUNBIRDS

Sunbird, Little Collared
(_Anthreptes collaris
elachior_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 21.10.16 179
” Lampert’s Senegal
(_Cinnyris senegalensis
lamperti_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 31.3.16 86
” ”
♀ ” 3.4.16 93
” Yellow-bellied (_Cinnyris
venusta falkensteini_)
♂ ” 1.4.16 87
” Bifasciated (_Cinnyris
bifasciata microrhyncha_)
♀ Kissaki, G.E.A. 18.10.16 173
” Kilimanjaro Long-tailed
(_Nectarinia kilimensis
kilimensis_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 13.4.16 117

WARBLERS

Warbler, Red-headed Grass
(_Cisticola ruficeps
scotoptera_)
♂ Maktau, B.E.A. 29.9.15 14
” Dwarf Grass (_Cisticola
nana_)
♂ ” 8.10.15 18
” Common Grass (_Cisticola
lateralis_)
♂ Moschi, G.E.A. 6.4.16 102
” Uniform Wren (_Calamonastes
simplex simplex_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 10.10.15 20
” Long-tailed Scrub (_Prinia
mistacea tenella_)
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 9.11.16 194
Crombec, Jackson’s (_Sylvietta_)
[probably _jacksoni_]
♀ juv. Moschi, G.E.A. 7.4.16 103
Warbler, Yellow-bellied Bush
(_Eremomela flaviventris
abdominalis_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 10.10.15 21
” Golz’s Long-tailed Forest
(_Euprinodes flavidus
golzi_)
♀ ” 8.10.15 19
” ”
♂ Kissaki, G.E.A. 9.11.16 191
Babbler, Aylmer’s (_Argya aylmeri
mentalis_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 26.9.15 8
” Kirk’s (_Crateropus
kirki_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 14.4.16 120
Whinchat, African (_Saxicola
torquata axillaris_)
♂ Kibosho, G.E.A. 8.5.16 161
Wheatear, European (_Oenanthe
oenanthe_)
♀ Maktau, B.E.A. 28.9.15 13
” Pileated (_Oenanthe
pileata_)
♀ Moschi, G.E.A. 4.4.16 98

[Sidenote: SPECIES OF INTEREST]

This was, under the circumstance of soldier life, but a small collection, but it is interesting to note that they proved useful and of interest. Dr. Hartert wrote concerning them:

“Nos. 1 and 26. It is surprising that a new species should
still be found in British East Africa. It seems, however,
probable that the specimens mentioned by Reichenow from Ugogo
as probably—judging by the somewhat poor description and figure
in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society—being _Serinus
donaldsoni_, are not the latter, but this new species, which I
have described as _Serinus buchanani_ at the January meeting
of the British Ornithological Club, 1919. I have compared the
specimens with the types and other examples of _S. donaldsoni_
in the British Museum, from Somaliland, and it is evident that
_S. buchanani_ differs by its larger and less curved bill,
longer wing, and more yellowish colour, especially the sides
being yellow with faint stripes, not green with black streaks.

“The nest of _S. buchanani_ was found at Maktau in the fork
of a thorn tree about eight feet above the ground, on 26th
September, 1915. It is a somewhat flat structure of fibres and
rootlets, interwoven with cobwebs and wool. The three eggs are
pale blue with purplish black dots and short lines around the
wide pole. They measure 20 by 14·8 and 19·3 by 14·7 mm. They
closely resemble the eggs of the Trumpeter Bullfinch.

(init.) “E. H.”

“No. 13, _Oenanthe oenanthe_ (European Wheatear) collected at
Maktau, B.E.A., on 28th September, 1915. This appears to be an
early date for the occurrence of the European Wheatear so far
south.

(init.) “E. H.”

“No. 36. _Colius leucocephalus_ (White-headed Coly). This
species is still very rare in collections. It is at once
distinguished from all other colies by its well-marked white
head. The first example was obtained by Fisher at Wapokomo,
B.E.A., in 1878, and long remained a unicum. The trader Abdu
Jindi sold a skin from Bardera to the Paris Museum. The British
Museum possesses specimens obtained on the Guaso Nyero, B.E.A.,
by Lord Delamere, and by Atkinson at Logh, Somaliland. The late
Baron Erlanger collected five specimens in Southern Somaliland.
The bird is figured in _Coliidae_, Genera Avium VI, 1906. Quite
recently Zedlitz received three males and one female from
Afgoi, South Somaliland.

(init.) “E. H.”

“No. 105. _Laniarius funebris degener_ (Lesser Sombre Shrike),
collected at Moschi, Kilimanjaro Area, is from a locality that
is remarkable. Hitherto only known from South Somaliland,
but agrees perfectly with _degener_, being smaller than
_atrocaeruleus_, and much less deep black than _L. funebris
funebris_.

(init.) “E. H.”

“Nos. 115, 116. _Treron calva brevicera_ (Hartert’s Green
Pigeon). In _Novitates Zoologicae_, XXV. 1918, I have, with the
help of Arthur Goodson, reviewed the African Green Pigeons of
the _calva_ group. We were able to distinguish not less than
nine sub-species, and there seem to be one or two other, still
doubtful ones, in N.E. Africa. In the _Catalogue of Birds_ in
the British Museum all these nine forms were united, while
Reichenow separated two, and recently four different ones. The
specimens from East Africa have given us the greatest trouble.
It is evident that a distinct form with a very short naked
‘cere’ or basal portion of the beak, and with a sharply defined
lavender-grey nuchal collar, is found in East Africa around
Kilimanjaro and thence to the Athi River, Machakos, Matabato
Hills, and to the Kikuyu Mountains and Escarpment. This form we
called _Treron calva brevicera_.

(init.) “E. H.”

“No. 152. _Motacilla clara_ (Long-tailed Pied Wagtail). This
is the bird which used to be called for many years _Motacilla
longicauda_, but as this name had been preoccupied, Sharpe
named it _Motacilla clara_ in the fifth volume of the
_Hand-list of Birds_.

(init.) “E. H.”

[Sidenote: PLANTS COLLECTED]

I collected also during our travels some specimens of plants for Dr. A. B. Rendle of the British Museum, and was fortunate to secure some interesting species, four of which were new, and not formerly recorded, and have been described in the _Journal of Botany_ (October, 1916), while others, unfortunately, were too fragmentary to determine, or to give more than a genus name, though nine of them are possibly new species.

The East African plants obtained were:

CAPPARIDEAE
_Cleome hirta_ Oliv.

PORTULACACEAE
_Talinum cuneifolium_ Willd.

TILIACEAE
_Grewia canescens_ A. Rich.

GERANIACEAE
_Pelargonium_ sp.

LEGUMINOSAE
_Vigna fragrans_ Bak. fil.
_Rhynchosia_ sp.

RUBIACEAE
_Pentas carnea_ Benth. (forma)
_Oldenlandia Bojeri_ Hiern

COMPOSITAE
_Erlangea Buchananii_ S. Moore (sp. nov.)
_Vernonia Hoffmanniana_ S. Moore
_Vernonia lasiopus_ O. Hoffm.
_Ageratum conyzoides_ L.
_Notonia abyssinica_ A. Rich.
_Wedelia abyssinica_ Vatke
_Melanthera Brownei_ Sch. Bip.
_Senecio disciflorus_ Oliv.
_Berkheyopsis diffusa_ O. Hoffm.
_Aspilia_, sp.
_Achyrocline luzuloides_ Vatke
_Zinnia multiflora_ L. (New World plant; an escape from gardens.)
_Erythrocephalum longifolium_ Benth.
_Triplocephalum Holstii_ O. Hoffm.
_Mikania scandens_ Willd.
_Pluchea dioscoridis_ D. C.
_Polycline_ (sp. nov.?)

OLEACEAE
_Jasminum Buchananii_ S. Moore (sp. nov.)

APOCYNACEAE
_Adenium coetaneum_ Stapf

ASCLEPIADACEAE
_Daemia extensa_ R. Br.
_Sarcostemma viminalis_ R. Br.

BORAGINACEAE
_Cynoglossum lanceolatum_ Forsk.

CONVOLVULACEAE
_Ipomaea Wightii_ Choisy
_Hewittia bicolor_ Wight

SOLANACEAE
_Solanum panduraeforme_ E. Mey.

SCROPHULARIACEAE
_Rhamphicarpa Heuglinii_ Hochst.
_Rhamphicarpa serrata_ Klotzsch. var. _longipedicellata_ Engl.
_Striga elegans_ Thunb.

GESNERIACEAE
_Streptocarpus caulescens_ Vatke (Ulugúru Mts.)
_Streptocarpus_ sp. (Ruwu River)

PEDALINEAE
_Sesamum_ (sp. nov.?)

ACANTHACEAE
_Thunbergia affinis_ var. _pulvinata_ S. Moore
_Thunbergia alata_ Bojer
_Barleria maculata_ S. Moore (sp. nov.)
_Ruellia_, sp.
_Eranthemum Hildebrandtii_ C. B. Clarke
_Ecbolium namatum_ C. B. Clarke
_Barleria_, spp.
_Barleria ramulosa_ C. B. Clarke
_Somalia_ (sp. nov.).
_Blepharis linariaefolia_ Pers.
_Justicia Fischeri_ Lindau

VERBENACEAE
_Priva leptostachya_ Thunb.

LABIATAE
_Leucas_, sp.
_Erythrochlamys spectabilis_ Gürke
_Coleus decumbens_ Gürke
_Plectranthus buraeensis_ S. Moore (sp. nov.)
_Leucas leucotricha_ Baker

NYCTAGINEAE
_Boerhaavia plumbaginea_ Cav.
_Boerhaavia pentandra_ Burch.

AMARANTACEAE
_Aerua lanata_ Juss.
_Aerua brachiata_ Mart.
_Digera arvensis_ Forsk.
_Centema rubra_ Lopr.

CHENOPODIACEAE
_Chenopodium album_ L.

EUPHORBIACEAE
_Phyllanthua amarus_ Schum. & Thonn.

(Species possibly new when genus only is given.)

A. B. RENDLE.

BRITISH MUSEUM (NAT. HIST.) _30th May, 1916_.

In collecting in this way, in odd hours, one was constantly moving about, and to that, strange as it may seem, I ascribe my good fortune in keeping fit and free of sickness during the first two years of service in the tropics. I feel sure, even if one feels listless and exhausted, that it is a mistake to lie about camp in the oppressive heat when off duty, pestered by flies and camp dust, and brooding over your discomforts. Some of the men of the battalion became interested in this searching for curious things, and, after a time, it was noticeable that they were the ones most contented with the hardships they endured, and among the fittest on trek. Africa had undoubtedly the power to depress men’s spirits in no light manner, and thus, to find something to do and think about, in any interval of idleness, was a good thing.

[Sidenote: PESTS OF CAMP AND TREK]

Lastly, I will refer to the pests of camp-life and trek.

The common house-fly was a terrible pest at all times. They swarmed over everything, and were a particular source of annoyance when food was being prepared, or being eaten. It was impossible to take steps to reduce their number in the limitless areas through which we were constantly passing, and there was nothing for it but to endure the plague, while, whenever camp was established for a few days, all rubbish was scrupulously burned or buried so that they would have as little to attract them to our neighbourhood as possible.

A large glossy “blue-bottle”—following the ghastly trail of dying transport animals, was also a common and disease-carrying pest. When the elephants—mentioned previously—were shot in the Ulugúru Mountains, they were miles from any habitation, and in vague bush country, which one would judge was no habitat of “blue-bottles,” yet in an hour they were in millions on the dead carcases—so many that the standing grass was weighed down with the blackness of flies settled on each stem. The sense that brought such swarms to one small centre in so short a time is beyond understanding. Should a horse die on the roadside, but a day will elapse before it becomes a seething mass of “blue-bottle” larva and terrible to look upon.

Mosquitoes, in regard to their irritating bite and their nocturnal activities, were, on the whole, not very troublesome, and in no instance have I a record of their being particularly bad, but they carry the malaria germ, and, in that they did so, they were our most deadly enemy. As protection against them everyone was supposed, by S.M.O. order, to sleep beneath mosquito net, but that was often quite impossible when trekking, and our kit miles in rear.

In some parts we passed through, especially if riding, the tsetse fly was a terrible pest, for they bite hard and deep, and follow you persistently on your way for many miles. It is that fly which is credited with carrying the germ of that dread disease sleeping sickness—while, as is well known, its bite is particularly fatal to imported horses and mules, and, in lesser degree, to cattle.

[Sidenote: ANTS AND BEES]

Ants, too, were among our enemies. And once you have been amongst red fighting ants in long marsh grass you are never likely to forget them. Sometimes, too, those species trek during the night, and I have seen a sleeping camp turned out in the middle of the night by those insects swarming over everyone and biting furiously. And, after a day of hard trekking, this kind of disturbance is very far from pleasant, as may be judged by the vicious exclamations of abuse that arise out of the darkness. These red ants were the worst of their tribe, and many an uncomfortable experience we had with them. Again, there was a tiny species of ant that was always with us. It infested every article of our belongings, and particularly anything edible, and on that score was a great nuisance, though quite harmless otherwise. As if there was not enough to plague the life of man, spiders, tarantulas, and scorpions on occasions found their way into your blanket, and they were insects that were dreaded, for their stings were very painful and poisonous and inflamed and irritated the part afflicted for days.

There are a great many bees in East Africa, and the natives place hives for them in the trees and collect the wild honey from time to time. These bees, if annoyed, are the most dreadful insect in Africa. On two occasions hives were disturbed by our battalion, and swarms of the annoyed inmates descended to inflict terrible punishment on all those in the neighbourhood. On the first occasion their attack was more than human flesh could endure, and an entire company was routed in disorder from the neighbourhood. I have never before seen bees attack with such ferocity nor sting so poisonously. On the first occasion of attack one unfortunate man was completely overcome, and lay on the ground groaning and screaming, while bees were apparently biting him to death. From this he was rescued, but not before he was mentally unbalanced, and had to be removed to hospital. On the second occasion of attack another individual suffered almost equally severely.

Many snakes were killed about camp, but no one of our battalion, so far as I know, was ever seriously bitten by one. One python was killed and a number of puff-adders, and a great many of the smaller grass snakes. I have seen men, when sleeping in the open, awake at daylight to find a snake, 4 to 6 feet long, curled against their body for warmth, but, on being disturbed, they slid off quietly into the grass, and were gone without attempting to be antagonistic.

At Kissaki camp we experienced a bad plague of mice. At the time we were there, the entire neighbourhood had been burnt out by the natives in clearing their cultivated ground of undergrowth, and this had driven the mice into camp. There were thousands of them—they lived in your grass roof by the score, they scuttled about the floor of your hut o’ nights, and while you slept they played “hide and seek” over your blankets. It was a common thing for half a dozen biscuit-tin traps—make-shift traps made by ingenious Tommies—to catch a hundred mice in a night.

Those are but brief references to the forms of Nature that were closely associated with the campaign; some giving us pleasure, some adding to our trials and discomforts—but all memorable to those who have bivouacked and trekked under the tropic sun.