Chap. IV. PRODIGIOUS NUMBER OF WATER-FOWL. 99 



yellow colour when at rest, but seemingly of a pure white 

 when flying, takes wing, and sweeps across the green grass 

 in large numbers, often showing us where buffaloes and 

 elephants are, by perching on their backs. Flocks of ducks, 

 of which the kind called " Soriri " (Dendrocygna personata) 

 is most abundant, being night feeders meditate quietly 

 by the small lagoons, until startled by the noise of the 

 .steam machinery. Pelicans glide over the water, catching 

 fish, while the Scopus (Scopus umbretta) and large herons 

 peer intently into pools. The large black and white spur- 

 winged goose (a constant marauder of native gardens) 

 springs up, and circles round to find out what the disturbance 

 can be, and then settles down again with a splash. Hundreds 

 of Linongolos (Anastomus lamelligerus) rise on the wing 

 from the clumps of reeds, or low trees (the Eschinomena, 

 from which pith hats are made), on which they build in 

 colonies, and are speedily high in mid-air. Charming little 

 red and yellow weavers (Ploceido?) remind one of butterflies, 

 as they fly in and out of the tall grass, or hang to the 

 mouths of their pendent nests, chattering briskly to their 

 mates within. These weavers seem to have " cock nests," 

 built with only a roof, and a perch beneath, with a doorway 

 on each side. The natives say they are made to protect the 

 bird from the rain. Though her husband is very attentive, 

 we have seen the hen bird tearing her mate's nest to pieces, 

 but why we cannot tell. Kites and vultures are busy over- 

 head, beating the ground for their repast of carrion ; and 

 the solemn-looking, stately-stepping Marabout, with a taste 

 for dead fish, or men, stalks slowly along the almost 

 stagnant channels. Groups of men and boys are searching 

 diligently in various places for lotus and other roots. Some 

 are standing in canoes, on the weed-covered ponds, spearing 



h 2 



