Diary of Birds seen on the White Nile.



163



was scarce. At sunset, innumerable frogs commenced croaking.

Later, a large number of fire-flies appeared, and as soon as the

lights were turned on we were boarded by swarms of mosquitoes.


Feb. 9th. At three a.111. we arrived at the dredgers, which

have been working at the sudd for some time past. It would

probably repay a zoologist to live on board the dredger to

examine the numerous species which are brought up. The

country now gets more wooded and we passed some Dorn palms.

During the morning I saw some of the brilliantly-coloured

Saddle - billed Storks ( Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis). Some

Whistling Teal were shot. I also saw some specimens of

RiippeH’s Spur-winged Geese ( Pledropletus rueppelli'), also a

species of Dai ter ( Plotns congensis). This latter bird swims

with the body entirely submerged. Navigation above the

dredgers is difficult as our wheel frequently gets clogged with

sudd. There are also many shallows in the river. Hippotami

were numerous, and owing to the narrowness and shallowness

of the channel it was difficult for them to get out of our way;

indeed we experienced a very violent blow on one occasion

during the efforts of one to pass under our boat. At four o’clock

I saw the most interesting birds which I came across during the

whole journey. Two Shoe-billed Stoiks ( Balceniceps rex ) were

in the rushes at the side of the liver. Our boat passed quite

close to one of them, but it remained absolutely motionless and

paid not the slightest attention to our presence. Our engineer

told me they are rare in this neighbourhood, but are more often

met with in the Balir el Ghazal district. I felt extremely fortunate

in seeing this extraordinary species. To-night we pass through

the new cutting from the Balir el Zeraf into the Balir el Jebel,

which follows the course of that made by Sir Samuel Baker.

To-morrow we shall reach Shambe 011 the main stream, 843

miles from Khartum.



(To be continued ].



