186 Mr. L. B. Mouritz on the 



other ])oints reach over 5000 feet. It should be noted, ho-vr- 

 ever, that in the more elevated parts the liills seldom rise 

 abruptly for more than 200 or 300 feet, whereas, where the 

 general plane of the valleys is lower, one finds hills rising 

 over 600 feet. The hotel at the terminus of the branch line 

 from Bulawayo is 4375 feet above sea-level ; and the World's 

 View — hallowed to all eternity as the last resting-place of 

 Cecil John Rhodes — is 4700 feet. A feature of many of the 

 larger ranges is the crater-like valleys at their summits, and 

 one often finds natives' stock grazing in such jdaccs, whilst 

 duiker grow to a great size in these out of the way spots. 

 Nearly every range has its quota of leopards, which ])rey 

 upon the plentiful klipspringers, baboons and rock-rabbits, 

 and at the same time they are great depredators of the 

 inhabitants' small stock. 



Oruithologically considered, the ^latopos offer an ideal 

 hunting-ground, and a few days' sojourn in these delightful 

 hills and valleys must serve to convince one that the whole 

 area is indeed one of Nature's preserves. The many 

 precipitous krantzes^ away in the remote ranges present 

 secure breeding-sites for Ravens, Eagles and Hawks, where 

 they will be able to nest for centuries in undisturbed 

 possession ; whilst favourable conditions are offered to 

 the smaller birds in the overgrown ravines and rank 

 growth along many of the streams. As is to be expected 

 of such a peculiarly-formed and well-defined formation, 

 certain species of birds are found which do not occur in 

 the adjacent districts, except, in some cases, as daily 

 visitors at stated seasons (when tempting food-supplies lure 

 them from the hills), or merely as casual wanderers at odd 

 times. Similarly, one finds species occurring plentifully on 

 the surrounding veld which do not penetrate any distance 

 into the hills, and which are unknown among the central 

 ranges. 



Before proceeding further, it would be as well to state 

 that I have not collected in the eastern ]\Iatopos, nor have 

 I had any experience of the southern side, where, however, 

 -*■ /. c, precipices. 



