With Flashlio-ht and Rifle -»> 



In those parts of Africa in which I havfi travelled 

 the lion's favourite prey is the zebra, and in this liking- for 

 zebra- flesh he is of one mind with the caravan-carriers, who- 

 also prefer it to any other. b\ill-oTovvn rhinoceroses and 

 hippopotamuses, and of course elephants, are ncjt molested 

 by him; but their young ones are preyed upon, as well 

 as all other animals down to the small antelopes. Trust- 

 worthy observers tcdl also ot his encounters with porcu- 

 pines, in which h(^ often sustains damage. 



Lions often hunt in combination, driving their prey 

 towards each other. This I have ascertained beyond dispute 

 by studying their tracks and by watching them at night. 

 They seem to communicate with each other l)y their roars. 

 In poimcing uijon their prey, especialK' when drinking, 

 they make astounding springs ; I have measured some 

 which covered twenty-four feet. Their fivourite plan 

 is to take up their position on some high spot, on the 

 steep bank of a river, say. and sjjring down sideways 

 from this s|)Ot upon their quarry. Unlike leopards, they 

 are unaljle to climb trees. 



In the dry season great numbers of lions are to be 

 seen tog('ther at the drinking-places. I)y the stream 

 alongside which 1 took my best lion-photos I have seen 

 a group of over thirty lions of all si/('S and ages. In 

 the early morning 1 could ascertain by studying their 

 tracks that th(\- were; nioxing al)out in herds. When the 

 rainy season came along these herds broke up, and the 

 lions spread al)out over a wide area in pursuit oi prey, 

 each on his own account. 



I camKJt test the accuracy of the well-known narratives. 



3T^ 



