I^I 



CHAPTER III. 



The Estuary. 



" Among the solitary birds which frequent the estuaries of 

 rivers, the Hern and the Cormorant are of too much consequence 

 to be overlooked." — Gilpin. 



'"T^HE above quotation seems to apply very happily 

 ■*^ to the estuary of the Knysna River, where not 

 only are the " Hern and the Cormorant" frequently to 

 be seen, but also many other birds which affect similar 

 districts, notably the Curlew and the Little Egret, to 

 say nothing of the Greenshank, and innumerable small 

 waders. All these birds, and many others too, con- 

 gregate in the neighbourhood of Knysna during the 

 three closing months of the year, and in December, 

 when the "season" is in full swing, the Storks, as 

 visitors of some importance, arrive upon the scene. 



From the larore island which is connected with the 

 mainland by a low breakwater and on which the jetty 

 is built, one may look across a broad expanse of mud, 

 and narrow channels of water, to Steinbok Island, on 

 which a few low bushes and stunted trees stand out in 

 relief from the surrounding flats, while in the distance, 

 just visible through the shimmering air, rise the two 

 natural gates of rock which form the Knysna Heads. 

 At low tide the birds are busy feeding indiscriminately, 

 an Egret or two dotted among the Curlews, and a 



