140 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
with an expanse of 92 and 93! inches respectively, and 
a marabou of 103I inches. The pouch of one heron 
contained a silurus-like fish of ij lb., that of the other a 
lung-fish (Protopterus czthiofiicus ), together with such a 
mass of strange amphibians, half-fish, half-reptile, that 
the bird was quite unable to close its beak. The same 
shot accidentally winged a spoonbill 30 yards beyond; 
and we also brought in a pallid harrier, scissor-bills, 
dotterels, ruffs, godwits, a darter, and two marsh-sand- 
“The Bolshevik.” 
pipers, or, more appropriate, lesser greenshanks (Totanus 
stagnatilis). The skinners had plenty of work. 
It was amusing while this operation proceeded, to 
watch the assembling of the scavengers alongside our 
ship, first kites, then pied crows and neophrons. A kite 
perches on a stump ; up sidles a crow, with beak agape and 
hostile croak. The armed kite attempts no more than 
a mild deprecating sort of defence—useless against 
aggression. Soon Corvus occupies the stump, triumphant, 
Milvus retiring to a low ridge in the rear. Very soon he is 
dispossessed of that refuge and squats humbly in the 
grass—truly he is a craven! The crow is the feathered 
Bolshevik; he scores on bluff and cheek, and because 
