44 Bird Hunting on the White Nile. 



the ugly head of a crocodile appeared within ten yards 

 of them, but it slowly drew back on seeing us. As a 

 rule the natives make a ring of thorn bushes in the 

 river where they water their goats and cattle to protect 

 them from the crocodiles. But they seem to have no 

 fear of the reptiles for themselves. They wade out into 

 the river to fetch water; if a boat sticks on a sandbank 

 the crew jump out without hesitation; and, more re- 

 markable still, fishermen may often be seen standing 

 motionless up to their shoulders in the water while 

 fishing with nets. The natives are very fond of the flesh 

 of the crocodile, and once when I had shot, but failed 

 to kill, one of the reptiles, our camel men threw off 

 their clothes and rushed into the river in the hope of 

 *' tailing " it. It is true that the men were hungry at 

 the time, having squandered their money upon 

 " merissa " or " boozer," and having had little to eat 

 for some time, with the exception of a large fishing 

 eagle, which they had consumed with avidity some hour 

 or two after it had been shot. A specimen of this 

 eagle, the vociferous sea-eagle,^ may be seen at the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens in London. With its white hood it is 

 a conspicuous object, and a fine looking bird when 



* Haliaiitus vocifer, Baud. 



