DUCK-SHOOTING IN THE EAST INDIES. 159 



rather a creepy feeling to be so close to the huge 

 saurian, but these tank crocodiles are as harmless 

 to man as the Ceylon river alligators are dangerous. 

 They managed, however, to secure a good many of 

 our wounded birds before the afternoon was out, but 

 the boatmen did not mind them the least, jumping 

 overboard without hesitation close to where the brutes 

 had just showed themselves. 



The teal seemed very unwilling to leave this tank, 

 probably because there was no other great sheet of 

 water near. They bunched up alternately at each 

 end of the water and remained motionless, watching 

 us till the canoes got nearly within gunshot. Then 

 they rose and swept past us, and for a minute 

 or two it was load and fire pretty quickly. Twice, 

 at least, I managed to align two and kill both with 

 one barrel. Mixed with the teal were a quaint little 

 bird with which I was not familiar, but which proved 

 to be grebe in splendid plumage. 



At length the teal began to abandon the place. 

 We were paddling to pick up some wounded birds, 

 when I saw a magnificent eagle, who seemed anxious 

 to assist. I gave him a barrel, and Jim gave him 

 two, but though he staggered about and was very 

 sick, he got away. This was a disappointment, as 

 they are by no means common in Ceylon. In fact, 

 I cannot recall ever having seen another in the low 

 country. I once did see, and followed, a vulture, 

 which is said to be unknown there, but the brute 

 was very shy, and after half an hour's chase, I took 

 a long shot with a ball cartridge, the only result of 



