228 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



weakened by age or by wounds received in en- 

 counter with its rivals, or with some formidable 

 quarry, and which therefore found its usual 

 prey diflBcult to catch, would be apt to hang 

 around places where carcasses, or living creatures 

 still feebly struggling, offered themselves to rav- 

 enous appetites. 



The plant remains in these deposits show 

 that the climate and vegetation were sub- 

 stantially those of California to-day, although 

 in some respects indicating northern rather 

 than southern California. There were cypress- 

 trees of a kind still common farther north, 

 manzanita, juniper, and oaks. Evidently the 

 region was one of open, grassy plains varied 

 with timber belts and groves. It has been said 

 that to support such a fauna the vegetation 

 must have been much more luxuriant than in 

 this region at present. This is probably an 

 error. The great game regions of Africa are 

 those of scanty vegetation. Thick forest holds 

 far less big animal life. Crossing the sunny 

 Athi or Kapiti plains of East Africa, where the 

 few trees are thorny, stunted acacias and the 

 low grass is brown and brittle under the drought, 

 the herds of zebra, hartebeest, wildebeest, and 

 gazelle are a perpetual delight and wonder; 

 and elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo abounded 



