272 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

more numerous, but very sober in hue ; besides the sparrows and bee-eaters above mentioned, I don'J remember any brilliant-coloured ones. Hoopoes therd were in plenty, and small wood-pigeons ; but thd other land-birds were as dingy as London sparrows!

and couldn't even sing. Among the water-birds, thej razor-bill, a small black-and-white bird with a bill some-J thing like a toucan, was the most curious ; and beside him there were a few pelicans, herons, paddy-birds wild geese and ducks, storks, and cranes, yet no in anything like the quantity we had been led tc expect. Probably the advent of so many men anc boats on the river drove the birds and beasts away for further up-stream, at Metemmeh, wild-fowl, black storks, adjutant-birds, and every sort of quaint water bird simply swarmed.

Fishing was a simple amusement very no requiring much skill on the part of the fisherman When an Arab wants to catch a fish, he ties a strong hook on to a hank of cord, weights it with a stone and winds it on to a big reel with a big iron pin through the middle of it. He also provides himsell with a little bell tied on to a thin stick. He then