The Pretty Ardetta (Herodias
Bubulcus), Of A Light Yellow Colour When At Rest, But Seemingly Of A
Pure White When Flying, Takes Wing, And Sweeps Across The Green Grass
In Large Numbers, Often Showing Us Where Buffaloes And Elephants Are,
By Perching On Their Backs.
Flocks of ducks, of which the kind
called "Soriri" (Dendrocygna personata) is most abundant, being night
feeders, meditate quietly by the small lagoons, until startled by the
noise of the steam machinery.
Pelicans glide over the water,
catching fish, while the Scopus (Scopus umbretta) and large herons
peer intently into pools. The large black and white spur-winged
goose (a constant marauder of native gardens) springs up, and circles
round to find out what the disturbance can be, and then settles down
again with a splash. Hundreds of Linongolos (Anastomus lamelligerus)
rise on the wing from the clumps of reeds, or low trees (the
Eschinomena, from which pith hats are made), on which they build in
colonies, and are speedily high in mid-air. Charming little red and
yellow weavers (Ploceidae) remind one of butterflies, as they fly in
and out of the tall grass, or hang to the mouths of their pendent
nests, chattering briskly to their mates within. These weavers seem
to have "cock nests," built with only a roof, and a perch beneath,
with a doorway on each side. The natives say they are made to
protect the bird from the rain. Though her husband is very
attentive, we have seen the hen bird tearing her mate's nest to
pieces, but why we cannot tell.
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