VOYAGE UP WHITE NILE 61 



sharp strides and a lightning stroke, the innocent-looking 

 egret has attacked ... a fluttering victim hangs from his 

 beak! But the captor also lacks prescience. Unless he 

 bolts his prey at once (which is not his way), a regular 

 meUe ensues. Every heron, stork, and ibis within sight 

 joins in the hue and cry, and finally the prize is pouched 

 by some more powerful pirate." 



Spoonbills when feeding keep revolving on their own 

 axis, "scuppering" the while among the ooze as children 

 go shrimping on a sea-beach, except that at intervals the 

 birds cease dredging in order to scoop up their disturbed 

 victims water-insects, larvae, and animalculse. And in 



EGRET HUNTING. SPOONBILLS. 



close attendance upon each group of spoonbills swims a 

 shoveller-duck or two, eager to exploit the chance of 

 "fishing in troubled waters." 



On the riverside black-and-white kingfishers, spurwing 

 plovers, and chestnut jacanas are conspicuous the latter 

 running over the lily -leaves and floating water- weed ; but 

 it is impossible to catalogue all the abounding water-fowl. 



In the forests droves of doves of various species dart 

 through the maze of branches or come down to drink at 

 dawn and dusk. Hornbills, hoopoes, and green parrots, 

 with brilliant rollers and bee-eaters, lend flashes of colour 

 to the scene, while birds of prey become conspicuous. 

 Great white-headed river-eagles take post on a lofty tree, 

 and at intervals rend the air with wild vociferations. 



