140 SAVAGE SUDAN 



with an expanse of 92 and 93! inches respectively, and 

 a marabou of 103! inches. The pouch of one heron 

 contained a silurus-like fish of i| lb., that of the other a 

 lung-fish (Protopterus cethiopicus\ together with such a 

 mass of strange amphibians, half-fish, half-reptile, that 

 the bird was quite unable to close its beak. The same 

 shot accidentally winged a spoonbill 30 yards beyond ; 

 and we also brought in a pallid harrier, scissor-bills, 

 dotterels, ruffs, godwits, a darter, and two marsh-sand- 



"THE BOLSHEVIK." 



pipers, or, more appropriate, lesser greenshanks ( Totanus 

 stagnatilis\ The skinners had plenty of work. 



It was amusing while this operation proceeded, to 

 watch the assembling of the scavengers alongside our 

 ship, first kites, then pied crows and neophrons. A kite 

 perches on a stump ; up sidles a crow, with beak agape and 

 hostile croak. The armed kite attempts no more than 

 a mild deprecating sort of defence useless against 

 aggression. Soon Corvus occupies the stump, triumphant, 

 Milvus retiring to a low ridge in the rear. Very soon he is 

 dispossessed of that refuge and squats humbly in the 

 grass truly he is a craven ! The crow is the feathered 

 Bolshevik ; he scores on bluff and cheek, and because 



