432 



SAVAGE SUDAN 



of modern zoological science there remains another aspect 

 that needs a moment's examination. Not only are the defence- 

 less presumed to be protected against potential enemies, but 

 the enemies also, that is the Raptorials, are camouflaged in turn. 

 Now in the Sudan raptorials abound man, bird, and beast alike 

 prey on feebler neighbours. Along the Nile stretch predacious 

 multitudes in serried ranks unbroken for thousands of miles. 

 The main objectives of these bandits are virtually identical. 

 In order that they may live, ten, or a hundredfold their numbers 

 of other creatures must die daily flesh, fish, reptile with all 

 the host of strange amphibian beings that abound in mud- 

 charged shallows and reed-studded swamp. True, it is a 



"soft-job"; but, even so, 

 when objectives are equal, 

 why should the aggressors 

 be arrayed in diametrically 

 opposite colours? There 

 are, for example, four 

 species of ibis ; two are 

 white, the other two black. 

 The same rule applies to 

 the herons, egrets, storks 

 to the whole category. 

 By theory, if the white are 

 specially equipped for their 

 work, the black must be 



proportionately handicapped. In practice, both succeed equally. 

 The white prosper; the black never lack. Colour does not 

 count. 



The common British heron is extolled as a masterpiece of 

 concealing coloration. His dappled array of pectoral plumes, 

 it is claimed, so admirably resemble rippling water as to 

 deceive the very fish themselves. Well, the British heron is 

 equally common here on Nile ripples and all ; but here he 

 finds two cousins keen competitors in piscatorial pursuits 

 but which, instead of rippling plumes, display solid dark 

 waist-coats of deep maroon-red. They, too, find no difficulty 

 in getting their daily bread ; nor do the egrets, which 

 are snow-white ; nor the openbill, which is glossy black. 

 None have rippling plumes designed to deceive; yet towards 



" RIPPLING PLUMES." 



