8 NATURE AND SPOKT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



species, Pelccamis rufescens, is well known in Southern 

 Africa, and has often been observed in the Cape 

 Colony, Natal, and other places. The amount of fish 

 consumed by the many thousands of these birds on 

 the Botletli river and round Lake Ngami must be 

 prodigious. The Ngamiland water systems, how- 

 ever, swarm with piscine life, and the supply seems 

 always constant in spite of the attacks of pelicans, 

 otters, crocodiles, eagles, hawks, and natives. 



The late C. J. Andersson noticed that at Walfisch 

 Bay on the south-west coast these pelicans had 

 become excessively shy, and that it had become 

 all but impossible for Europeans to get within rifle- 

 shot of them. They exhibited, however, little fear of 

 natives, and were in the habit of watching them at a 

 short distance while spearing fish in the shallows, 

 becoming even bold enough to snatch the fish from 

 before their very eyes, and so anticipate their sport. 

 He observes, too, that the pelican nests among 

 bushes, and lays a single Qgg, white, and of beautiful 

 oval shape. Chapman, in his travels, writing also of 

 these pelicans at "Walfisch Bay, mentions that they 

 ** pursue their prey nightly in the shallow lagoons, 

 driving the fish, by flapping their wings on the 

 water, near the shore, and catching them while 

 floundering." 



These great birds are magnificent swimmers, and 

 in the Botletli seem to have no difficulty in supply- 



