go THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
a grebe and could be clearly seen under the water, making its way 
rapidly towards the reeds. I have never seen adult jacanas dive or 
swim, so I assume that this is a provision of nature for the protec- 
tion of the young before they are fully feathered and have the 
power of flight. 
I was very anxious to get a few specimens of the White-backed 
Duck and the Pygmy Goose, neither of which, at that time, had 
been seen in captivity in England. The latter is one of the smallest 
and prettiest of all waterfowl. Unfortunately my nets were not 
constructed for anything larger than a jacana, and more often 
than not a duck colliding with one would just bounce off without 
being caught. 
My plan, on seeing some waterfowl on the pool, was to edge 
my way through the reeds, slowly approaching the deep water at 
the end opposite the nets, so that when I emerged the birds were 
on a straight and narrow stretch of water, hemmed in by reeds, 
between me and the nets. Then entering the long channel, I would 
propel my punt at great speed towards the birds, my hope being 
that they would keep low and skim along the water without 
rising over the tall reeds, and thus hit my nets. However, one 
learns more about birds’ actions when trying to trap them than in 
any other way, and I soon found that Pygmy Geese can twist and 
alter course with an extraordinary facility. Several times, after 
having waited days for a favorable opportunity, I managed to 
institute a successful drive, only to see the birds suddenly swerve 
high over the nets when apparently about to collide. The White- 
backed Ducks, being heavy birds with a more clumsy flight, were 
unable to perform these antics, and I got a pair without much 
difficulty. 
I shall never forget the capture of my first Pygmy Goose on this 
expedition. I had got as far as driving it into the hanging nets, 
but it was not properly in a pocket, and as it struggled I could see 
that it was only a matter of moments before it freed itself. Propel- 
ling the punt at a speed never attained before, I approached the 
nets, which were right in my path. The goose was nearly out and 
was about to take off when I dropped the pole and grabbed him 
in mid-air, but under the great weight and impetus of my barge- 
like craft the nets collapsed and enveloped me. However, I clung 
