In Wildest Africa ^ 



curve along the river's course, at a fair height. They are 

 returning to their nests, and as they draw near I get a 

 better chance of observing the varying phases of their flight. 



But look where I may, I see all around me a wealth 

 of tropical bird-life. Snow-white herons balance them- 

 selves on the topmost branches of the acacias. Barely 

 visible against the deep-blue sky, a brood-colony of 

 wood ibis pelicans {Tantalus ibis, L.) fly hither and thither, 

 seeking food for their young. Other species of herons, 

 notably the black-headed heron, so like our own common 

 heron {Ardea melanocephala, Vig., Childr.), and further 

 away a great flock of cow-herons {Bubuictis ibis, L.), 

 brooding on the acacias upon the island, attract my 

 attention. Egyptian Kingfishers {Ceryle rtidis, L.) dart 

 down to the water's edge, and return holding tiny fishes 

 in their beaks to their perch above. 



The numbers and varieties of birds are in truth almost 

 bewildering to the spectator. Here is a marabou which 

 has had its midday drink and is keeping company for the 

 moment with a pair of fine-looking saddled storks {Ephip- 

 piorhyncJius senegaiensis, Shaw) ; there great regiments of 

 crested cranes ; single specimens of giant heron {Ardca 

 goliath, Cretzschm.) keep on the look-out for fish in a 

 quiet creek ; on the sandbanks, and in among the 

 thickets alongside, a tern {CEdicnenms vermiczilaiics, Cab.) 

 is enjoying a sense of security. Near it are gobbling 

 Egyptian geese and small plovers. A great number of 

 cormorants now fly past, some of them settling on the 

 branches of a tree which has fallen into the water. They 

 are followed by Tree-geese {Dendrocygna ziduata, L.), 



330 



