124 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



manner it swims, with its body entirely submerged, 

 and nothing but its long and tortuous snake-like neck 

 projecting from the water may cause these supposi- 

 tions ; however, whether it be afloat or ashore, it 

 really has an unnatural look. As it was now nearly 

 sunset, thousands of other birds of similar species to 

 the above-mentioned continued to arrive. These 

 doubtless had spent their day on the open terrain or 

 river side, but made the bayou their resting place at 

 night, from its shallowness and want of current. 

 However, it must not for a moment be imagined 

 that they pass the hours of darkness inert, standing 

 on one leg ; for such is not the case, all feeding at in- 

 tervals during the night. Probably, in that portion ot 

 the twenty-four hours (night), the most active bird is 

 the slender billed spoon-bill (Platea temrirostris), a 

 graceful slim-bodied creature, but looking strangely 

 disfigured by its unsightly head appendage. How 

 ever, the clouds are banking up in the east, and only a 

 few lines of the most brilliant orange colour remain in 

 the distant west, so home must be sought, for darkness 

 in the tropics sets in with no laggard steps — a home 

 around which many pleasures can be derived, but 

 these are sadly marred just now by the illness of my 

 companion, who has long endeared himself to me by 

 his gentle yet manly ways. 



We had scarcely commenced our return journey 

 when there was an extraordinary amount of 

 excitement and animation among my attendants 



