J^atjna of Lake Amucü, 
319 
Hundreds of giant storks ( Mycteria Americana) , Ciconia Maguari } 
several species of heron and tlie big glutton (Tantalus loculator Linn.) 
were hunting after their numerous prey here. .Were 1 to draw near one 
of these spots with my Indian followers our plan of campaign was quickly 
sketched : like cats we sneaked through the coarse swampy grass to the 
waterside so as to watch the feathered gathering for a while unnoticed. 
Solemnly and peaceably the large cranes and storks strutted in and out 
between each other around the water’s edge, and sunned or bathed 
themselves in it, while a really illimitable number of noisy swamp-fowl 
( Todiccps ) and ducks, each species in separate groups, actually hid its 
surface: the bitterns stood up in it to the level of their plumage 
waiting for a lish to pass along. When at last a rash movement on our 
part betrayed our presence to a watchful heron, the whole feathered host 
rose at a given signal with a truly infernal uproar and hovered around 
in extensive circles. But although these thousands every time took to 
the wing in the most disorderly rout, the different genera and species 
nevertheless immediately separated themselves the one from the 
other. The huge Mycteriae with their featherless neck and head, big 
beak, and scarlet-red ring at the base of the naked neck, rose just like 
our storks in circles high up into the air, until they finally disappeared 
almost beyond range of vision. Only the small Vississi ducks with their 
piping note seemed to be regularly banned from our neighbourhood. As 
soon as we were discovered my Indians would always jump up to their 
necks into the water and from this standpoint keep on shooting their 
well-directed arrows into the crowds swarming around. If the creatures 
were flying high and so could see the advancing weapon they immediately 
made an opening for it all round, just like our flocks of pigeons when a 
bird of prey darts across them. But in effecting such an unruly 
manoeuvre they often struck each other so violently as to break their 
wings and fall down stunned. The confusion was still greater when, 
pushing one another aside like this, two different groups of birds came 
into conflict. I have then seen from five to eight spec i me is fall to the 
ground without more than one being wounded by the arrow. If during 
such a mix-up the birds were within range of my gun I usually got ten ot 
twelve at a shot. The Anas moschata were at all events smarter than the 
others because, when rising in a body they sought sure safety in flying 
apart. iThe bag of a single hunting party was accordingly generally so 
considerable that we were able to satisfy the wants of almost all our 
people. 
888. From a botanical point of view these swampy situations also 
supplied me with a number of interesting forms, f 
889. The continued activities of the water fowl, in addition to the 
abundance of fish that the Indians daily brought in, had already 
indicated how plentifully these watery spots must at the same time be 
stocked. As the Lonchoearpus densiflorus Benth., grew in fair quantity 
t Her pest es gratioloides Benth. which covers almost the whole of the swampy surface 
Pohmala oppress«, Benth, P. hygrophyla Humb. Bonp., P. variabihs Humb Bonp., Sipanm 
dichotoma Humb. Bonp., Pavonia cancellata Cav , P. augustifoha Benth., Meloehia gram »if oh a 
St. Hil., Wedel ia hispida Humb. Bonp., Coutouhta reftexa Benth., Licania pendula Benth. 
Limnauthemum Eumboldiianum Griseb.. Cuphaea micranthra Humb. Bonp.. Melvilla nim.ll etc. 
were the most conspicuous. 
