-*> By the Xjiri Lakes 



to the water. Is it a young parra ? No, apparently 

 not ; and to my delight I recognise for the first time 

 the dwarf parra (Microparra africana capensis}. 



The extraordinarily long feet of these tiny birds 

 make it intelligible how they manage to run over the 

 surface of the water and with them they are enabled 



TROPICAL VEGETATION NEAR THE COAST 



to utilise as footholds the smallest morsels of floating 

 vegetation. 



Round us go whistling and twittering countless numbers, 

 of small warblers, now coming towards us inquisitively, 

 then flying right away. Suddenly a shrew-mouse makes 

 its appearance right at our feet in the midst of this watery 

 world that tiny beast of prey with a bite so terrible for 

 its size ; and by way of contrast to this pigmy there 

 resounds the tremendous roar of the reatest of all the 



