42 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
not only of ducks and geese but also of tall cranes, herons, 
and storks, marshalled rank beyond rank in semblance of 
squadrons of cavalry. The following is a careful analysis 
of the component elements of five of these feathered army- 
corps, examined consecutively through telescope and 
prism-binoculars—all five during one short forenoon. 
' January 22nd.'—Second Day Out . 
(i) 9.45 A.M. —Ahead lies an island that looks a mile in 
length, but scarce a scrap of its surface is visible by reason 
Nile Geese ( Chenalopex )—General Appearance on the Wing. 
of the birds that cover it. The central ridge, all cranes 
(common, crowned, and demoiselle), surrounded rank beyond 
rank by big black spurwing geese; nearer still, mixed mobs 
of Egyptian geese and shelducks carpet not only the whole 
foreshore but extend far out into the open water, where their 
fringes join up with acres and acres of ducks beyond all count, 
but including pintail in thousands, wigeon, teal, garganey, 
shoveller, with straggled bunches of tufted ducks diving in 
the deeper channel outside. All along these shallows the masses 
of ducks and geese are punctuated with moving forms of dark 
ibises and openbills, herons both grey and white—the latter 
in assorted sizes—and spoonbills, all these last stalking about 
amidst their somnolent neighbours, probing, scuppering, 
dredging, and fishing. Add to these, waders in all sizes and 
incalculable numbers—curlews, whimbrels, godwits, ruffs and 
