1920.] Cape Sun Aiilo/iio. Biienoft Aijres. \7 



is Tuost bewildering, and recalls the apliorism of "the wood 

 being so thick that one could not distinguish the trees.*' 

 Any well-known or characteristic species presents no dif- 

 ficulty ; and even their relative proportion to each other 

 may be correctly or approximately determined. But those 

 I have alluded to blend with each other and become so 

 niixed-up in the general kaleidoscopic throng as to impede 

 a satisfactory individualisation and estimate. 1 am sure that 

 my diary is frequently blank due to the natural hesitation 

 produced by this cause alone. 



340. Dendrocygna fulva Crni. Fulvous Tree-Duck. 



In tlie Ajo district the migration and abundance of this 

 species is subject to much \ariation. Regarding the former 

 point I have observed flocks so early as 8 August, and 

 also coming in as late as 4 May. Why it should have 

 appeared in force in the early spring of one famous flood- 

 year (1877), and in the still greater inundation of 1913 

 been actually scarce until midsummer, is a problem beyond 

 solution, the conditions being similar. 



In 1877 the number was almost incredible. Huge masses 

 covered the grass-land immediately bordering the swamps 

 for hundreds of yards in length with a depth of from five to 

 twenty yards. These rose reluctantly, not in flocks but 

 solid blocks, and the sound of the wings and clamour of 

 voices was overpowering. What the impression produced 

 upon me at the time was, may be gathered from my 

 diary thirty-seven years subsefjuently, when (on 4 March, 

 1914) after chronicling in my diary a flock of some five 

 hundred which had passed closely over my head, "•their 

 confused cries resembling the crackling of rain upon a hot 

 iron plate," I find myself sadly adding 'M)ut where are the 

 birds of 1877, which lined the shores of the canadas in 

 serried brown phalanxes, or broke and rose with a noise like 

 thunder, and permeated the whole atmosphere to the hoi'izou 

 with Ijrown sun-motes?'^ 



Fulvous Tree-Ducks are stupid birds, by no means shy 

 or wary. I liave drifted past them in a canoe, between the 



sKK. XI. — VOL 11. c 



