134 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes 



mence anew. Paddling mucli nearer to the desired goal, we 

 again essaj^ed to enter ; and after fighting our way through 

 belts of sallows and reed-beds, over masses of floating vege- 

 table matter and tussocks of sedge, and across open spaces 

 thickly carpeted with that interesting aquatic plant Stratiotes 

 aloides, we at last approached the outer fringe and caught 

 glimpses of the blue eggs of the Ibis. Short work was made 

 of the remaining barriers, and we were soon in the midst of 

 an almost indescribable scene. On every side arose a vast 

 body of birds, the beating of their pinions and their harsh 

 notes producing quite a deafening sound; and soon the 

 whole colony, estimated at 30,000, was on the wing, their 

 confused flight resembling the gyrations of a swarm of bees. 

 After a short interval they grew somewhat accustomed to 

 our presence, and perched on the surrounding bushes, so 

 close that the red eye of the Night-Heron and the yellow 

 patches between the toes of the Little Egret were plainly to 

 be seen, while they swayed about uncomfortably on the top- 

 most twigs of the sallows along with the Glossy Ibis, Pygmy 

 Cormorant, Common Heron, and Spoonbill. Around us were 

 the nests and eggs of all these species save the Spoonbill. 

 Those of the Ibis were in every instance on the surface of the 

 w ater, or but very little above it, and w ere in the utmost pro- 

 fusion. The Night-Herons had their nests a few feet above the 

 water, as had also the Squaccos and Little Egrets, though 

 those of the latter were sometimes placed just above the sur- 

 face. The structures of the Common Herons and Pygmy Cor- 

 morants were, as a rule, among the higher branches. In order 

 to give some idea of the profusion in which these nests were, it 

 is only necessary to say that in one bush wei-e noted one nest 

 of Common Heron, two of Pygmy Cormorant, three of Night- 

 Heron, two of Little Egret, one of Squacco, and three of 

 Glossv Ibis. Nor was this a singular instance, for most of 

 the trees were equally laden. The nests of all these species 

 were very similar in structure and materials, those of the 

 Night- and Squacco Herons being composed entirely of 

 sticks, the lining of those of the former species being ar- 

 ranged to radiate from the centre. The nests of the Pygmy 



