Swarms of Water-Birds, 
83 
fore lie was enjoying a view of the raging turmoil — no longer sees 
it. These banks generally disappear just as quickly as they develop, 
or their previous contour becomes altered so strikingly that one does 
not recognise them again in their altered condition. With the incom- 
ing flood, the blustering surf seemed as if it likewise wanted to attempt 
similar changes upon our perishable abode, a cause for anxiety to which 
was soon added the torments of an intolerable heat, because no tree, 
not even a shrub, protected us from the scorching and fiery sunshine, 
that rendered even the inside of the tent insufferable. Fortunately at 
least we were saved the terrors of mosquitoes because every attempted 
attack of theirs was repulsed by that true ally of ours, the sea breeze. 
289. According to my brother's arrangements we were to remain 
here until he had fixed the geographical situation of this spot as ac- 
curately as possible: at the same time in conjunction with Mr. Glascott 
lie wanted to learn how far the bed of the Waini might be navigable. 
290. The sandbank offered nothing but a counitless supply of waiter- 
birds which, hastening here in swarms of thousands from the coast dur- 
ing the ebb, and surprised at our unexpected visit, settled down on the 
far water-side. Amongst them were the glorious flamingoes which 
already at a fair distance away might mislead one into thinking a com- 
pany of English soldiers was on the march along the shore. Hundreds) 
of rose-red spoon-bills (Platalea Ajaia Linn.) lustful for robbery but 
keeping us all the time in view, were wading through the shallow water- 
holes: associated with these and taking similar precautions were long 
rows of Ardea leucogastcr Magi., A. nice a Lath., A. leuce 111., and A . 
roerulescens Lath., as well as dense crofvds of sand-pipers, and snipe 
( Charodrius , Nitmenius, Scolopax) . Outside of these lines the greatest 
varieties of duck were rocking themselves on the shapely curved rol- 
lers of the lightly moving surf, while enormous processions of scissor- 
bill ( Rhynchops ) in close rank, flew slowly along immediately above 
the surface and ploughed up the water with their peculiarly construct- 
ed beaks. With a shot putting an end to these brisk activities tin* 
deafening cackle, scream and chatter suddenly subsided, whereupon the 
frees and shrubs along the shore became temporarily covered with blos- 
soms that were foreign to them. For hours together I used to watch 
tliis ever changing struggle, the watchword of which is a continual feud 
and strife between and among the different genera: it was only the fear 
of my gun that was able to ensure a short armistice which even the 
red ibis and white egret when put to rout wilfully misunderstood. It 
was peculiar never to see the young birds of the former species flying 
with the older ones, but in their own separate flocks, as could be recog- 
nised already at a distance, because the grey feathers of the youngster 
only changes into the fiery red of the adult during the course of the 
third year. The flesh of the young bird being extremely tasty, it con 
tinually served as a target for our guns. 
291. Though our table was so richly supplied with feathered game, 
we never at any time managed to combine it with any nice fish, for 
when we threw out our lines we generally caught nothing. The 
Anableps tetrophthalmns (“Four-eye”) of but little taste, was the only 
fish that more than tried to replace this want. It swarms in such im- 
mense shoals along the whole coast and banks that when overtaken by 
