42 In the Heart of Africa 



this respect by a very fine specimen of the latter popping up 

 out of the water one day in close vicinity to our folding boat. 



" The scarcity of any large species of fish in the lake was 

 conspicuous. We were only able to capture barbel a few inches 

 in length and some specimens of cichlidae, and in the stomachs 

 of the otters — which were very plentiful here — we found the 

 remains of small fish only. Consonant with this fact it may be 

 stated here that no fishing is carried on by any of the inhabitants 

 of the surrounding country. 



"We found the ornithology of the western end of the lake 

 very rich in species. The lake and its banks and the floating 

 islets of reed masses were animated by swarms of ducks, geese, 

 snake-birds (or darters), water-hens, water-rails and lapwings." 



And Mildbraed goes on : " Generally speaking, the papyrus 

 swamps are poor in species, but the western part of Lake Mohasi 

 harbours very rich flora. In almost all respects it corresponds 

 to the other valleys of the district ; it is, so to speak, the sub- 

 merged lower part of a valley which has no outlet, and is gradu- 

 ally drying up in the west. The chief vegetable growths are 

 the papyrus and prickly marsh rush (Cladium mariscus), which 

 is also to be met with in Germany, and which forms immense 

 sedgy banks. The numerous floating islets consist entirely of 

 these growths, which are easily pushed aside by a boat. Two 

 shrubs of the willow family luxuriate on these islets, and have 

 been named the Myrica Kandtiana Engl., in honour of their 

 discoverer, Dr. Kandt. Strangely enough, a species of fiscus 

 {F . -pmrii-ptonini Hiern var. niandensis Mildbr.') also grows 

 there, for it is probably the sole specimen of this large African 

 family to be met with in true swamp formation. 



" The open water bears two specimens of water lily, both 

 recognised as fresh discoveries — the Nym-phcsa MildbrcBdii Gilg., 

 and N. magnifica Gilg. ; they form a splendid adornment to 

 the lake, with their blossoms merging into all shades, from 

 rose-red to blue, and their beautiful large floating leaves. 



" Then come the wood-ferns found in the sedge-banks, also 

 some other growths, too numerous to mention individually, which 



