The Ostrich is generally distributed, but is most abundant in Western Kordofan.
Reptiles.
The common African Crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) abounds in the Sudan rivers. Large Monitor Lizards or “Waranas,” reaching 5 or 6 feet in length, are not uncommon: among smaller lizards are various Chameleons, Geckoes, and Skinks.
Soft-backed river Turtles (Trionyx) are plentiful. A common land Tortoise is Testudo calcarata: a common aquatic Tortoise is Sternothærus adansoni.
Of snakes the largest is Python sebæ; of poisonous species the Cobra, the Horned Cerastes, and, further south, the Puff-Adder occur: harmless species are more numerous. On the whole, snakes in the Sudan are not plentiful enough to be troublesome, and the mortality due to snake-bite seems insignificant.
Batrachians are rather poorly represented: a Toad (Bufo regularis) very like the common European species is the most abundant.
Fish.
The Nile fish have recently been very thoroughly investigated, the collection formed by Mr. Loat, under the auspices of the Egyptian Government, being the largest ever brought together from one country.
Those interested in the subject may note that the scientific results of the “fish survey” will shortly be published in the form of a Monograph, by Mr. G. A. Boulenger.
[Briefly speaking, it may be said that the rivers swarm, almost throughout, with fish; they are mostly of a coarse kind, some running to an immense size—40 to 50 lbs. being quite an ordinary weight for some species.—Note by Editor.]