164 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



you sail along you frequently see, first here, then 

 there, fish jumping out of the water, and when 

 you look into the shallows in all directions you 

 see shoals of little fishes. Then the number of 

 fishing-boats, with their great nets picturesquely 

 hung up to dry, is another visible evidence of the 

 teeming myriads of fish that this saltish-water lake 

 contains. The first Flamingoes I saw were in the 

 centre of a large flock of tufted Ducks. Leaving 

 the dahabeah I got into the small boat and quickly 

 paddled towards them, but they would not allow 

 of a very near approach before up got the Duck, 

 and then in another moment the Flamingoes, who 

 had up to then been feeding with heads down in 

 the water, were all on the wing — to rise they faced 

 for one minute in my direction, and the great mass 

 of crimson feathers under the wings made a most 

 gorgeous spectacle against the blue sky ; then they 

 swung round, and more white than red was visible, 

 and quickly in a long irregular line they were away 

 to some less disturbed place. Only once did I get 

 really close up to one, and I found out afterwards 

 by the hanging leg that it only allowed me to 

 because it was some poor crippled bird. They 

 are so shot at and persecuted generally that they 

 are now exceedingly shy, and in spite of the good 



