62 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
Buzzards of two kinds—the dark steppe-buzzard .(Buteo 
desertoruni) and the handsome Butastor rufipennis , rich 
tawny, finely barred—hunted the drier plain ; also pallid 
harriers, ghostly in their pale French-grey. Marsh- 
harriers (many showing a development of the blue 
secondaries beyond anything to be seen in Europe) 
quartered each nook and corner of the swamp. It was 
curious to notice how the larger water-fowl, such as herons 
HORNBILLS (.Lophoceros erythrorhynchus ). 
and ibis, absolutely ignored this robber, even when 
sweeping close overhead. Buffbacks, however, plovers, 
and even egrets were much more nervous, rising in alarm 
though the hawk made no attempt to seize them. 
Eventually he made a determined dash at a crowd of 
thirsty doves on the shore, and cleverly clawed one which 
in panic had fluttered into an entanglement of reeds. 
One morning I noticed an eagle stoop headlong into 
some low bush. A pack of guinea-fowl fluttered up in 
fright, but lit again. I expected the eagle had seized one, 
