54 AN INUNDATION. 



singly among the reeds to feed ; when a large flock of them 

 rises with their running kind of flight, like a Coot, the noise 

 may be heard for miles. The Purple Gallinule, Forphyrio 

 hyacintliiiia, is most plentiful on the desert side, where it may 

 generally be found sitting up in the high reeds ; and here, 

 too, the Purple lieron is very common, and by no means 

 shy, always frequenting the thick reeds, and never exposing 

 itself on the open desert like the Common' Heron. I also 

 found the Little Cormorant abundant, as well as the fine Great 

 Blackheaded-Gull, Larus ichthyaetus, and saw the Great White 

 Heron and Great Crested Grebe, but was unable to procure 

 specimens. Among the small waders I found Tofaiius stayna- 

 tilis, ^yialitis pecuarius, Chettusia Villotcei, and Limosa m.e- 

 lanmra very abundant ; and among the birds of prey, Aquila 

 ncBvia, Pandion haliaetus, and Buteo ferox plentiful, and less 

 shy than on the Nile. 



February 20tL — Owing to the insects being numerous and 

 of a disagreeable kind, we move into a nice green field, where 

 we are not destined, however, to remain long ; for on the 

 following day the embankment of the Bahr Yoosef gives way, 

 and floods the country between tlie sugar-factory and the 

 lake. The parched soil absorbs it so fast, that the inundation 

 approaches us but slowly ; and my dragoman being prompt 

 in turning out an Arab village, we managed to get all our 

 things in safety to an embankment on the border of the 

 lake, while the spot where our tent had been an hour 

 before became a sheet of water knee-deep. Darkness having 

 set in before our move, I hastened to the embankment to 

 select a spot and light a fire to guide the others to me. 

 As the night was dehcious, twinkling with innumerable 

 stars, this little excitement was rather pleasant than other- 



