WADING BIRDS. 
167 
of water, into which it dipped the ends of its long and 
graceful wings, as it picked up the tiny insects for an 
evening’s repast. Along the heach at low water, many 
pretty wading birds were seen, and some captured. The 
Sterna melanoptera, or black-winged tern ; the Sterna 
Senegalensis, or Senegal tern; the Glareola megapoda 
and Cinerea ; the great footed and rufous necked pran- 
ticoles, as also the Hiaticula Heywoodii, or Nun River 
plover ; while large numbers of a black and white species 
of scissor-bdl, Rhyncops Orientalis of Riippel, moved 
about in a rapid and irregular manner. They did not 
seem to be procuring their food from the water, generally 
flying some feet above it ; but while on the ground they 
were actively engaged searching with their extraordina- 
rily shaped beaks, both mandibles of which are. thin, 
compressed and very sharp, the lower one being much the 
longest, and fitting into a sort of groove in the upper. 
Several times, when the Krumen could be spared, 
the seine was used in one of the neighbouring lagoons, 
and abundance of fish procured; but most of them 
had an earthy taste, probably from the condition of 
the water. On one occasion, while so employed, some 
of the party were obliged to swim across with the 
ends of the hauling lines, not aware of the occupants of 
the place, among whom, on concluding the draught, 
several saw-fish sharks, Pristis squalus, were captured. 
Although these are less dangerous than many of the 
family, they can inflict a severe and painful wound with 
their many-toothed and elongated snout. 
