154 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



as it does to our homely English waters or wilder 

 Scotch lochs ; it always, somehow, goes well with 

 the landscape. Shelley says, " It may be seen in 

 considerable numbers in company with Spoonbills, 

 Pelicans, and other waders." And it is one of the 

 curious facts about bird life here, that so many 

 of the birds that we know only as solitary and not 

 at all given to consorting in flocks, either with 

 their own species or any other, save at their 

 breeding stations, frequently do show a complete 

 difference of habit in this respect in this country. 

 From the boat I remember seeing a singular line 

 of seven birds flying towards us. The first was 

 a Heron, then a Spoonbill, then a Heron followed 

 by two Spoonbills, and the straight line ended with 

 two Herons, all so close together, the bill of one 

 nearly touching the tail of the other, and all 

 keeping time with the utmost precision. 



To enumerate all the places I have watched 

 this bird at is unnecessary, as at one time or another 

 I have seen it everywhere. Its food is fish, frogs, 

 and it is particularly fond of eels. 



