AFRIC’S CORAL STRAND 
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hovered, and screamed big crimson-billed terns (Sterna caspia ), 
and the yellow-billed Sterna bergii , plunging headlong, often 
half a dozen simultaneously, into the waves. There were 
smaller terns also (Sterna saundersi ), equally busy. Somehow, 
the sardine in these waters seems to have rather a thin time ? 
Nevertheless he flourishes amazingly and survives all persecu¬ 
tion in acres upon acres ! Another strenuous fisher—though 
he went for bigger game—was a great black ivory-billed 
White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus )—Immature. 
Note slightly forked tail. 
gannet, rather a weird-looking fowl, locally known as the booby 
(Sula sula ); and the osprey also occasionally treated us with 
a superb exhibition of piscatorial skill—plunging completely 
beneath the waves, and re-emerging amidst flying spray with 
a 2 lb. bonito suspended from his claws. It was remarkable 
that these eagle-fishers—elsewhere so wild and solitude-loving 
—-were here amazingly tame, sitting unconcerned on the mast 
of a fishing-boat, or on a telegraph-post, while we passed 
below. 
As regards the terns, by the way, all the above remarks 
must be taken as referring exclusively to the spring season. 
