Clouds of sand-grouse of different species whirled about

TCD MS 10515 folio 82 verso

TCD MS 10515 folio 82 verso

[May 10th 1916]

Birds
Bird life in the desert is scanty in variety. Clouds of sand-grouse of different species whirled overhead either disturbed by the advance of the column or hurrying in their journey to the water. Less numerous than sandgrouse were flocks of bee-eaters (Merops persidus) and I was surprised to see a Dove far out in the lonely wilderness. The Bee-eaters were quite happy in the hot sand where not a single tree was to be seen. Locusts here form an important part of their food. In one grassy patch a colony of Bee-eaters were nesting. From the extent of the excavation it looked like a permanent settlement. Hundreds of tunnels in the ground indicated the positions of their nests from the openings of which the birds occasionally peered out. The birds