Expedition to the White Nile. 273 



107. ^Anastomus lamelligerus Terara. 



These conspicuous birds were to be seen all along the river 

 to within a few miles of Khartum. They were generally- 

 single and wild, but wherever there was an '' oyster-bed " 

 a fair number of them might be seen gathered together. 

 The whitish colour of the basal portion of the bill is often 

 visible at a considerable distance. 



108. ■^Leptoptilus ckumeniferus (Cuv.). 



These revolting-looking birds were fairly conmiou in small 

 companies from Kawa to within a few miles of Khartum. 

 They were always to be found on the " oyster-beds/^ and 

 were very tame. 



109. ■^PsEUDOTANTALUS IBIS (LiuU.). 



Fairly common. 



110. ^Phal.\crocorax africanus (Gm.). 

 Cormorants, presumed to be of this species, were often 



seen either flying low over the river or sitting on some snag 

 or ''oyster-bed.^' 



111. ■^Pelecanus onocrotalus Linn. 



Pelicans were seen at many points from Khartum south- 

 wards, either sitting huddled up ou some sandbank or 

 skimming over the water. We saw several large flocks. 

 Two of these, each composed of some 1000 birds, I ap- 

 proached until I was within 70 yards. They were standing 

 in the shallow water at the river's edge. Some were engaged 

 in pruning their rosy-white plumage, some in washing their 

 yellow pouches, while others were sleeping. 



I watched them a long time with my binoculars, and then 

 tried to creep up closer, but they gradually edged away until 

 the water floated them oft', and then, when I approached still 

 nearer, they all rose at once. For so large and heavy a 

 bird their flight struck me as peculiarly graceful. After a 

 few rapid powerful flaps the wings are outstretched, and 

 the bird skims swiftly along within a foot of the water for 

 some hundred yards in a straight line, then curving slightly 

 upwards, it flaps its wings again and takes another long 

 floating flight. 



SER. VIII. — VOL. I. T 



