88 THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
skimming across it. The larger birds—storks, ibises and herons— 
were having a wonderful time gorging themselves while the 
opportunity offered. One of the most conspicuous and numerous 
birds, and one that I had not seen in the vicinity until the flood 
came, was the long-legged, rail-like jacana (described in a previous 
chapter). Its liquid call-notes echoing across the water added to 
the general din of the large assemblage of water-loving creatures. 
There was a permanent pool covered with water-lilies and 
bordered by dense reed-beds in the center of the plain mentioned 
JACANA, OR LILY-TROTTER 
above, which was unaffected by the dry season, but now that the 
rains had arrived this pool was in the middle of a lake and its 
deep fringe of reeds provided a natural retreat for crakes and 
rails, and the whole assemblage of waterfowl. On account of the 
water-lilies, jacanas also favored this spot, and by setting hanging 
nets in the long channel between the reeds I had no great diffi- 
culty in catching them. 
To do this I was fortunate in being able to procure a large punt 
which, although being far too heavy and cumbersome for forcing 
one’s way through the reed-beds without the greatest difficulty, 
was nevertheless the means of my obtaining many specimens that 
I could not possibly have collected otherwise. 
The keeping of jacanas for the first two weeks after capture 
proved to be a difficult problem. Some specimens would remain in 
precisely the same position in their new roomy quarters as when 
first released from the hand. Thus it was not unusual to find one 
