With Flashlight and Rifle * 



view to setting at them later. This, unfortunately, we 



* ^5 O * w 



did not succeed in doing. Our halt, however, gave us 

 a wonderful opportunity for ornithological research in 

 this river-side region. 



Shortly before sundown a Cape stone-curlew (CEdic- 

 nemus capensis} flys past over the dark waters of the 

 stream with whirring wings and a curiously shrill whistle, 

 which sounds like Vee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee ! getting 

 quicker and sharper with each repetition, the last of all 

 being so shrill and piercing that it impresses itself un- 

 forgettably upon the ear. The bird is breeding just now, 

 and only a few minutes before sundown but then all the 

 oftener and more strenuously it gives out its song of joy 

 and love over this mournful river-side, from sandbank 

 to sandbank. It knows well how to keep out of the 

 way of its dreaded neighbour the crocodile, as does 

 also the Egyptian goose (Chenalopex cegyptiacus] now 

 sitting on the sandbank. 



Suddenly there emerges in mid-stream, silently and 

 only just perceptibly, the head of a crocodile more than 

 four yards in length. The goose has espied him, and, 

 raising herself, gives out a quick cry of warning. The 

 crocodile remains motionless, but the goose keeps her 

 weather eye open. 



Kingfishers (Ceryle rudis] make use of this twilight 

 hour for diving into the water and snatching at the small 

 fish. The water splashes up in the light of the setting 

 sun, and drops fall" from the feathers of the bird, which 

 takes up its place again upon a dry branch above the 

 stream, ready to pounce down again next moment. Now 



72 



