162 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



When full, such a tank as I have mentioned is of course a half- 

 disc of water; and as it dries, this becomes more and more cre- 

 scentic, till, when the water is near the original level of the soil, 

 the undug centre is a marsh surrounded by a crescent of deep water. 

 Thi3 is the best time for water-fowl, the waders taking up their 

 quarters in the marshy central promontory while the swimmers feed 

 around its shore, and especially in the horns of the crescent. 

 During the heat of the day they will sit upon its point or, if there 

 be an island, around that, or float quietly in the centre of the 

 widest water. 



It will be seen at once that on such a lake the best point for 

 stalking a flock will probably be at each horn of the embankment ; 

 but, once the birds are up and flying about, the points of vantage 

 are on the internal promontory and islands, if any. 



The angler's best place, on the contrary, is in the centre of the 

 outer curve of the water and inner curve of the dam, as there the 

 water is deepest and there will be the biggest fish. 



If, as often happens, one is encamped upon the tank, this 

 is all very convenient, as the best trees are sure to be 

 at the outside of the centre of the crescent which has 

 the most permanent water-supply. On very large and old tanks 

 the embankment is often well planted at this point. Now, it is 

 pleasant to fish near the tents,' but better to shoot out of range of 

 them. It may here be remarked that if the camping ground is 

 S.-W. of a large tank, it is often dangerous in the cold weather 

 (especially for women and children). The cold land wind, blowing 

 over shallow water and marsh, seems to strike deadly chill ; and 

 if one must camp in such a place, the north face of every tent 

 should be carefully closed pretty early in the evening, and extra 

 precautions taken in the matter of clothing and bedding. 



Such a camp, if one is not inclined to shoot near the tents, 

 gives in any province great opportunities for watching the birds 

 with the help of a good glass. They get pretty well accustomed 

 to natives and cattle, and, after a day or two, to the tents. 



I have often been able to watch the coots, jacanas, sand-pipers, and 

 towards the end of the cold weather, snipe, at very close quarters ; 

 and the other day I had a painted and a " full " snipe together 

 in the focus of my glasses for 15 minutes, within 20 paces. The 

 difference in their practice is noticeable, the painted snipe feeding 

 in the water a few inches from the mud and the i( full " snipe in 



