_Some of the denizens of the Zimbabwe district._—These are most numerous in the Elliptical Temple when the size of its area is considered, for this building abounds in bird, animal, reptile, insect, and plant life. Protected by high walls all round, it provides an area free from the disturbing effects of grass fires, sheltered from cold winds, and full of rank tropical vegetation and jungle. Here the gorgeous lapis-lazuli and turquoise blue of the jays and the brilliant scarlet and rich metallic green of the honey-sucker flash brightly in keen contrast to the white lichened walls. Yellow and grey hornbills, barn owls and owlets, wagtails, weaver birds, pigeons and doves, and little birds with yellow, white, red or blue or mottled breasts and wings, are constantly to be seen in the temple courts. One large barn owl has its usual perch on a branch near the summit of the Conical Tower, while “Go-away” birds are incessantly urging us to “Go away!” Numerous squirrels climb the walls and spring along their summits. Chameleons, one minute pale green, the next a mottled yellow, grey, and black, climb with aristocratic movements up the orchid-clad trunks of trees, pausing at intervals to fold their front paws in a comic attitude of prayerfulness. Large and small lizards of brilliant colourings, mainly magenta, Prussian and electric blues, and a startling orange, bask upon the ancient stones. Puff-adders, grass snakes, and mambas haunt the place, the latter climbing the highest trees and ascending steep, smooth sides without any apparent necessity for picking their way up rough surfaces. Pythons have been seen, and a python’s nest with about two dozen white leathery eggs, from which the young had been recently hatched, was found in the centre of the temple. On commencing work here in May, 1902, scores of cast-off snake skins of all sizes up to 5 ft. in length were found all about the temple. Scorpions which hide under the stones suggest to one the necessity of being careful in sitting down. Centipedes and large millipedes, snails with white spiral shells from 6 in. to 9 in. long, frogs, which on wet days persistently urge us to “Work! work!” abound, while after sundown crowds of large night-moths and bats flutter in the air. Brilliant butterflies, dragon flies, and fire flies, gigantic spiders, spiders which make their trap-doors of clay, hornets, bees, beetles, mosquitoes, and other stinging insects, and those which assume imitative forms. Tortoise-shells and porcupine quills were found, but no tortoise or porcupine. The number of skeletons of wild animals found in the grass was sufficient to suggest thoughts of Noah and his zoological cargo.