54 WANDERINGS OF A 



recommend a visit to the pool near the village of Sehwan, 

 which during the cold months is covered with wild-fowl ; 

 here we procured specimens of the shoveller (Anas clypeata), 

 castaneous (Fuligula wyroca), and tufted ducks (F. cristata), 

 also the Gargany teal {Anas qiierguedula), and here I met 

 for the first time the spotted-biUed duck {Anas pcecilorhyn- 

 cha). It is much larger than the mallard, and has a black 

 biU with a red spot at the base, and less yellow — body 

 speckled. This species is said not to be a resident, and 

 breeds in the jungles on the river's bank. Towards dusk, the 

 tern-like sheerwaters or skimmers {Shynchops) appear in com- 

 panies of from four to eight, skimming so close to the water 

 that their curiously-shaped bills and the tips of their wings 

 often touch ; they never settle, but seem to glean their food as 

 they fly along ; what that was I could not discover, possibly 

 small fish, moths, or locusts ; the two last are often found 

 floating on the surface of the river in great numbers. 



One morning, at daybreak, I was amused at the curious 

 evolutions of a species of water-gnat ephemera ; it was about an 

 inch in length, and of a white colour, with two very long hair- 

 like processes {setce) projecting from the tail. The rapidity with 

 which these little creatures propelled themselves, with or 

 against the current, surprised me. By the constant flapping 

 of their wings upon the water, aided perhaps by their legs, 

 and guided by their setse, the least waver of which seemed to 

 turn the little animal in less than a moment, they steered 

 their way rapidly, facing the cuj-rent boldly, leaving two tiny 

 furrows in their lee like those of a steamboat ; in fact they 

 were in principle diminutive steamers. They evidently ini- 

 nished food for fish, as we noticed myriads of small-fry catch- 

 ing them. 



The tall minarets of Suckur are seen a long way off, and 



