150 BIRDS 



behind a bank of bushes and reeds on Kimmi Island ; 

 excavated in a bed of dead diy leaves and beautifully 

 lined with warm down, it contained four white eggs. 

 About a week later, however, I found only two eggs in 

 the nest, so that possibly some had been devoured by 

 Varanus or a snake. 



I have related elsewhere how a mongoose that ardently 

 desired a gosling was frustrated by an old, old trick 

 played upon it by one of the parents. 



The large black and white spur-winged goose (Plectrop- 

 terus gambensis) is not so plentiful as the Egyptian goose, 

 but is a much better bird for the table. I saw it so seldom 

 that I have no notes about it. 



Similarly with the brightly coloured dainty little pigmy 

 goose {Nettopus auritus), which is found sparsely along 

 rush fringed stretches of shore, such as the north coast 

 of Bugalla and the channel between Damba and Kome. 



Rather curious little birds are Pratincoles {Galacto- 

 chrysea emini), which may be seen sitting on small rock 

 islets. They seem very sluggish birds, and are not very 

 interesting or attractive. Short legged, with rather slender 

 bodies of grey colour, the rounded heads bearing a short 

 beak, the pratincole is called " Akasalu " by the natives. 



Of the Plovers and their allies the most noticeable species 

 on the islands is a stone curlew {Oedicnemus vermiculatus), 

 known to the natives as " Mutunwa." Almost every 

 beach of gravel or sand or flat rocky shore has a pair or 

 more of these birds, which lay their eggs there, placing 

 the two in a slight hollow, without any attempt at a nest. 



If one interferes with eggs or young they are apparently 

 removed by the parents. I first noticed this on Damba 

 beach, where I found a pair of eggs lying on the shingle 

 and examined them ; but next day they had disappeared. 

 Again, on Ngamba, I came across a young bird, with the 

 other just beginning to make its way through the shell. 

 I helped it out, a poor little bedraggled feebly chirping 



