Ornithology of the Egyptian Soudan. 381 



were three of these nestlings despatched, but only two 

 reached me alive. The general colour of the plumage is 

 lustreless greyish black ; the head and neck are covered 

 with grey down; the bill is blackish, with only a slight 

 indication of red at the tip ; the " saddle " at the base of it 

 is blackish and edged with a fringe of whitish down. 



249. Leptoptilus crumenifer (Cuv.). 



The great scavenging Adjutant is fairly common every- 

 where in the vicinity of water. On the White Nile it 

 collects in great numbers when any large animal is killed, 

 and is a regular camp-follower of the big-game hunter. The 

 quarrels which take place between this bird and the Vultures 

 over a carcase are most amusing to watch. 



There must be immense breeding-colonies of Adjutants 

 somewhere in the Soudan, though I have never found 

 one. I have, however, heard vague rumours from natives 

 of a great nesting-place in the neighbourhood of the 

 Bahr-el-Arab. Adjutants are comparatively scarce along 

 the White Nile in September and October, and I am inclined 

 to think that they breed about that season. 



250. Anastomus lamelligerus Temm. (Open-billed 

 Stork.) 



251. Pseudotantalus ibis (Linn.). (African Wood-Ibis.) 



252. Phalacrocorax africanus (Gmel.). (Little African 

 Cormorant.) 



253. Plotus rufus Daud. (African Darter.) 



These four birds are all of wide distribution on the 

 Soudan rivers. 



254. Pelecanus onocrotalus Linn. 



The Common Pelican is abundant on the Soudan waters. 

 Immense gatherings are often seen on the rivers or on 

 inland lagoons. Some of these large flocks must consume 

 tons of fish in a week. 



255. Pelecanus rufescens Gmel. 



This is also a common bird in the Soudan, but I have 



never seen it in anything like such numbers as the last 

 species. 



ser. vi ii. — vol. v. 2 n 



