92 NATURAL HISTORY. 



As an example of what sights gratify one's eyes in the early morn- 

 ino-, it was no uncommon thing to see within a stone's throw of mv 

 boat the large and little cormorant, keenly engaged in catching their 

 morning meal, at least two species of tern every now and then de- 

 scending with a loud splash into the water, the common pied kingfisher 

 hovering over the surface, stilts, one or two of the numerous gracefid 

 white herons or egrets, several black-tailed godwits, of course one or 

 two of the numerous harriers which are perpetually sailing over 

 the rushes, and two or three species of the smaller waders ; other 

 birds there were, but I think I have quoted enough ; within a 

 stone's throw is no exaggeration : no crouching behind a bush, 

 or concealment was necessary on my part; they hardly paid 

 any heed to my presence ; on more than one occasion I have seen as 

 many as three white-tailed eagles together almost within gunshot. 



One of the methods of shooting wild fowl when required for 

 the pot, and I am afraid often when not, is to be poled to- 

 wards the numerous duck and shoot at them sitting on the 

 surface of the water at long ranges ; it is remarkable how they 

 appear to know the exact range of an ordinary gun, but a 

 choke-bore at present they do not understand ; their almost invariable 

 practice is to let you approach within 70 and 80 yards before they 

 take flight. 



On the banks are some fishing villages ; great numbers of fish are 

 caught by driving them into a net ; this operation is accompanied by 

 the most deafening and prolonged noise ; if fish can hear, they would 

 hear this ; on the front of each boat is a rocking wooden tray in 

 which is a copper dekshi ; this tray is perpetually worked, varied 

 with beating the deck with a short stick, the boat itself being rocked ; 

 a band conductor, as I will call him, as he seems to regulate the noise 

 and movements, stations himself in a boat at the mouth of the net ; 

 it is no uncommon thing for these fishing boats to have a long 



C3 o O 



perch, on which are seated various species of herons and egrets, and 

 cormorants, or else, perhaps, a pedlican is standing on their boats. 

 Mr. Murray says that they use these birds as decoys and sew up their 

 eyes ; in the case of those I have examined I am glad to say I have 

 never seen this latter cruelty perpetrated. 



The natives are adepts at spearing fish, which, when the fish are 

 at some little depth is no easy matter ; on account of the refraction, 

 part of the equipment of every boat is two or more spears, and a stone 

 on which to sharpen the points. 



