With Flashlight and Rifle - 



{Limnocorax niger) are to be heard chirping away, the 

 quarrelsome crested coot (Fn/ica cristata] wings its 

 way over the surface, numbers of moorhens (Gallinula 

 chloropus), single dwarf waterhens (Ortygomctra pusilla 

 obscura] and the long-legged parra {Actophilus africanui} 

 display themselves before our eyes. 



The sun hangs heavily over the expanse of water, 

 covered by its carpet of plants, and the atmosphere is 

 stifling. These plants are delusive in their island-like 

 aspect, and it is with difficulty that we make our way 

 through them cautiously step by step. Here and there, 

 upon islands upon which acacia-bushes grow, flocks of 

 cormorants have settled and are drying their feathers 

 with their wings outstretched ; but these enemies of fish, 

 backed up by all the other members of the world of 

 beasts and birds, have never been able to decimate the in- 

 habitants of these lakes which swarm with fish. Wherever 

 we turn our steps, we see in front of us little eddies and 

 whirlpools which tell us of lish pursuing their prey. 

 Throw a line, and in halt an hour you have caught such 

 a number of iish weighing five pounds and more that 

 four men will find it difficult to carry the burden back 

 to camp. 



Up to the arms in water, hidden by the reeds, it is 

 very enjoyable to remain hen- watching the birds. If it 

 were not for the mosquitoes and another kind of small 

 fly, which creeps into the eyes and nose and ears and 

 stings viciously, one could remain thus occupied tor days 

 together. 



A wonderfully beautiful little bird glides suddenly on 



102 



