TO LAKE NAIVASHA 251 



A fringe of papyrus here and there adds much to the beauty 

 of a lake, and also to the beauty of the river pools, where 

 clumps of them grow under the shade of the vine-tangled 

 tropical trees. 



The open waters of the lagoons were covered with water- 

 lilies, bearing purple or sometimes pink flowers. Across the 

 broad lily pads ran the curious "lily trotters/' or jacanas, 



Water-lilies, Lake Naivasha 

 From a photograph by Edmund Heller 



richly colored birds, with toes so long and slender that the 

 lily pads support them without sinking. They were not 

 shy, and their varied coloring a bright chestnut being 

 the most conspicuous hue and singular habits made them 

 very conspicuous. There was a wealth of bird life in the 

 lagoons. Small gulls, somewhat like our black-headed 

 gull, but with their hoods gray, flew screaming around us. 

 Black and white kingfishers, tiny red-billed kingfishers, with 

 colors so brilliant that they flashed like jewels in the sun, 

 and brilliant green bee-eaters with chestnut breasts perched 

 among the reeds. Spur-winged plover clamored as they 

 circled overhead near the edges of the water. Little rails and 



