of an Orchid Hunter. 



59 



gators swarm its banks on either side; half-a-dozen 

 or more bask on every sandbank, varying in size 

 from five to twenty feet long, and in colour from 

 light grey to a sooty black. I have counted as 

 man\' as thirty on one sandbank, yawning sleepily 

 in the sun, as tame as a herd of cattle, and afford- 

 ing excellent sport to the passengers. But a ball, 

 sometimes two or three, must be well planted to 

 stop one of these lazy gentlemen from shuffling 

 away to die in the bottom of the river out of sight 

 of prying eyes. Large and small lizards dart in 

 and out of the creepers which festoon the river- 

 banks, but scarcely give one time enough for a 

 shot. Sometimes several hundred of large black 

 ducks, with a kind of saw-bill, stand like a line of 

 soldiers, absolutely fringing - the sandbanks. Thev 

 are an easy prey to the sportsman, but when 

 cooked prove tough and unsavoury. Long lines of 

 herons patiently carry on fishing operations, whilst 

 flights of small wdiite cranes wheel about in the air, 

 disturbed by the passing boat, or else poise them- 

 selves on one foot on a fallen tree, looking like some 

 strait-laced belle in their pure white plumage and 

 delicate elegance. Kingfishers and humming-birds 

 flit from branch to branch, giving us a sight of the 

 primary colours to make up for the absence of 

 rainbows. 



