80 Bird Hunting on the White Nile. 



of the White Nile affords such sport that millionaires 

 would give untold gold for were it to be had in England 

 or Scotland. For an hour or more between seven a.nd 

 nine in the morning one can stand behind a bush or 

 sand-hill with a continuous stream of birds passing like 

 rockets backwards and forwards over one's head. Flock 

 after flock comes down from the dry dusty desert to 

 the cool waters of the river. The birds generally stay 

 at the river for but a few moments. Alighting on the 

 edge of the water or often with their feet submerged, 

 they take a sip or two, and then flying up and whirling 

 round, shoot back to their desert home. In some places, 

 however, where broad grassy flats bordered the river, a 

 large number of sandgrouse were to be found all day, 

 and they seemed to live and feed there in preference to 

 the arid inland country. There were two species of 

 these sandgrouse. The majority were of a speciesf with 

 a sandy-coloured back and a rich dark breast, a bird 

 which is found in astonishing numbers over the greater 

 part of the northern half of Africa. The other species J 

 was decidedly rare and only seen singly or in pairs and 

 never in flocks. It was a larger bird of a less uniform 

 colouring, and with bright yellow throat and cheeks. 



f Pteroclurus exustus (Temm.). t Pteroclurus senegallus (Linn.). 



