THE TANKS AND TANK SHOOTING 



the very large ancient schemes as there is no population 

 nowadays to take up the land again, and moreover the 

 soil, as a rule, is now too poor to repay cultivation. 



The tanks, from October to about the end of April, 

 during which time they contain plenty of water, simply 

 abound in bird life. The sedge, reeds, water weeds, and 

 lotus growth hide thousands of birds of many varieties, 

 and there is a never-ending scene of movement as they 

 fly here and there, circle overhead, rise or settle, and dive, 

 swim, or dart about in search of their insect food, the 

 cries and calls of each species forming a medley of sound 

 impossible to describe. Not being a naturalist I have 

 not investigated beyond the game birds to be found 

 amongst them, and so can only name the commonest 

 varieties. On any fair-sized tank in the North-Central 

 Province, during the season above-mentioned, you will 

 see, out in the open water, pelicans, darters, and the 

 smaller cormorants, and amongst or near the water-weed 

 growth, whistling-teal, the little goose-teal, and grebes. 

 Stalking about on top of the weeds and lotus leaves or 

 picking about in the shallows you will see blue coots, 

 water-pheasants, red-shanks, green-shanks, and sand-pipers 

 of several varieties, various cranes, herons, and perhaps a 

 few egrets, whilst overhead are ever circling many kinds 

 of hawks, kites, and eagles, one and all engaged in the 

 great struggle for existence. Along the water's edge the 

 pin-tailed snipe will be found in fair numbers, and on 

 higher dry ground, further from the water, an occasional 

 flock of golden plover may be met with. On any bit of 

 bank, or rock projecting out of the water, you are certain 

 to see numbers of loathsome crocodiles basking open- 

 mouthed in the sun ; repulsive creatures, yet looking 

 quite in place amongst their tropical surroundings, for 



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