I92 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



prolonged portion dipping in the water, it presents a 

 sharp edge like that of a knife, which strikes the 

 fish or crustaceans on which it feeds. The advan- 

 tage which this arrangement presents is not yet 

 quite understood. 



Dr. Jerdon, the well-known naturalist, says 

 in his " Manual of Birds in India" that the 

 skimmer does not feed on fish. Dr. Darwin says, 

 on the other hand, that it does, and that he has seen 

 it capture them. The old adage, I think, is par- 

 ticularly applicable here, "When doctors differ, who 

 shall decide ? " As I have found the vertebrae of 

 fish in their insides, with the latter I cast my lot. 



On our tramp we came across fresh elephant 

 spoor ; its quantity showed that the troop was 

 numerous, the formation of the footprints indicated 

 that they were all females. Sunday, with a knowing 

 look, remarked, " Where there's so many women, 

 there's bound to be soon some men knocking about." 

 A wise man is Sunday. 



Having traversed about five miles of country, 

 we again struck the river bank ; it was at the tail of a 

 rapid which descended into a long, sullen reach, the 

 latter much resembling a gigantic ship canal, and 

 margined on either side— although the banks in places 

 w T ere almost perpendicular — by giant reeds, fringed 

 by water-lilies of the greatest beauty and size, over 

 the leaves of which ran numerous jacanas (surgeon- 

 birds), among the most beautiful, graceful, and active 



