1905.] history of the uganda anglo-german boundary. 189 



Birds. 



Lake Victoria is a disappointing sheet of water in bird-life as 

 in fishes. Birds are of coitrse present, but not in the vast 

 numbers so extended a sheet of water in the heart of Africa 

 might lead a naturalist to expect. The reason is probably to be 

 found in the fact that the food-supply in the lake is very deficient 

 for birds and fishes alike — for many species of birds in consequence 

 of the poverty in fish. 



The White-headed Fish- Eagle {Haliaetus cdbicilla) is fairly 

 common all round the lake-shore and up the Kagera River. This 

 bird is invariably found in pairs, and appears to di^dde the districts 

 into beats, each containing its pair of fish- eagles in possession. 

 Their cheerful squalling, as described by Sir Harry Johnston, is 

 one of the most familiar sounds near African river and lake. 



An Osprey may also occasionally be seen on Lake Victoria 

 seizing fish on the surface of the water in a manner peculiar to its 

 kind 



A species of Plotus is fairly common, and may be seen in small 

 congregations at certain points where the ambatch or rocks afibrd a 

 convenient spot for perching and hanging their wings out to dry. 

 With them may also be seen the large Cormorants, which here 

 and there foi-m communities numbering several hundreds. The 

 northern end of the island Usuwgwe and the small rocky 

 Mwasambwa Islands and Dumo Point are favourite haunts of all 

 these birds. 



A large Gull, resembling the black-backed gull at home when on 

 wing, is also not uncommon close in-shore and especially in the 

 rivers. 



The Pied Kingfisher is fairly common inland. The two varieties 

 of brilliant-hued Kingfishers appear to forsake their occupation of 

 fishing to devote themselves entirely to the capture of insects. 



Herons are fairly plentiful in the swamps and at the edge of 

 the lake. The most conspicuous amongst these is the Goliath 

 Heron, a bird whose immense span of wing can be fully appreciated 

 when, disturbed by a canoe, he flaps slowly across the Kagera 

 River. The common Grey Heron is also a familiar sight, and at 

 times flocks of the White Egret. Night-Herons are fairly common 

 along the Kagera River. 



In the lake, Egyptian Geese and Spur- winged Geese may be seen 

 in small numbers ; Pigmy Geese are not uncommon near the lake- 

 shore, where the open reeds afibrd them shelter. 



Yellow-billed Ducks are perhaps the commonest of the ducks on 

 Lake Victoria. Throughout the course of the Kagera River no 

 ducks and geese were observed until reaching the Rufua River, and 

 especially the Karenge Lake. The latter seems a favourite haunt 

 of wild-fowl, and for this region of Africa is very well supplied 

 with water-birds of all descriptions. 



Huge flocks of Pelicans are to be seen, and large numbers of 

 Pochards and Yellow-billed Duck ; also Egyptian Geese. 



