174 A SAIL UPON THE ALBERT LAKE.

middle of the village, on whose branches rested several snowwhite herons. The few Balanites which occur are small and mean in appearance, and Zizyphus does not grow to be more than a bush. A tree-like species of euphorbia (Huphorbia tirucalli4, I presume), as well as tall Calotropis procera, and what was to me a new kind of Datura, with yellowish blossoms, are, however, pretty frequent. But the characteristic covering of the soil, except where the bare stone comes to the surface, is a species of Anthistiria, which, however, is too short to be used for the roofing of huts, and has no particular value as food for animals. At intervals appear, as it were, islands of closely interlaced prickly shrubs, and round about these are clumps of Solanaceze, tall Ocymum bushes, and some Leguminose.

These thickets, which are low and impenetrable, harbour multitudes of small birds, among which the loud comical song of the fantail warbler (Cistzcola ladoensis) and the full ringing notes of the grosbeak (Crithagra leucopygos) were especially conspicuous. ‘This portion of the lake shore forms undoubtedly part of the steppe zone to which Wadelai belongs, and which includes the entire valley of the Bahr-el-Jebel. As ornaments of every pathway and every track, | may mention the great number of turtle-doves (Turtur senegalensis) and the beautiful finches (Lagonosticta rufopicta), which fly up from under the traveller’s feet at almost every step he takes, and, regardless of the noise and bustle around them, go on searching for their food in the midst of the village and the kraals as boldly as in the thickets in their vicinity.. The relative poverty of the flora and its steppe-like character must be set down to the fact that, although the amount of rainfall, like that in Wadelai, is not small, taking the year through, yet its occurrence is separated by such long periods of drought that the vegetation has no opportunity to develop; nor can the moisture, which is engendered by evaporation from the waters of the lake do anything to promote the growth of vegetation, because it is carried away by the strong winds which almost constantly prevail. Moreover, the humus which covers the stony débris is very thin.

Immediately behind the village rises the principal range of hills. The two individual hills which tower above the village