Cape Buffalo 99 



unhealthy countries through which the Sabi, Gorongosi, Bosi, and Pungwi 

 rivers tiow betore entering into the Indian Ocean, tliey are in unfrequented 

 pUices still quite common, and may be come upon in large herds, being, 

 however, extremely difficult to get at owing to the deadly nature of the 

 climate. Now almost driven out of Mashonaland, a good many herds 

 yet remain in Northern Matabililand, along the tributaries of the Zambesi, 

 as also on both banks of the Chobi, and particularly in the angle formed 

 by these rivers before their junction. Once very common throughout 

 the country about Lake Ngami, they have now almost entirely disappeared 

 from there, and are only occasionally seen in the west along some of the 

 swamps of the Okavango." 



Habits. — Like its kindred, the Cape buftalo associates in large herds, 

 and when feeding generally moves in compact bodies almost always led 

 by a cow. Their feeding-grounds, at least in East Africa, are either among 

 open bush, or in clear pasture in the neighbourhood of bush. After feed- 

 ing during the night and early morning on such ground, they generally 

 seek thick covert for repose during the heat of the day. In undisturbed 

 districts, even when covert is at hand, they will, however, sometimes 

 prefer to lie out in the open during the day, probably to escape the attacks 

 of tiies. The old bulls, except during the pairing season, frequently 

 separate from the herd to wander about either alone or in parties of three 

 or four. Such bulls have frequently been stated to be more dangerous 

 than those accompanying the herd, but this is denied by Mr. F. J. Jackson 

 in his article on this species in the Badminton Library. As regards the 

 disposition of the animal, it is indeed very difficult to arrive at a satisfactory 

 conclusion, since different sportsmen differ much in their accounts on this 

 subject. Mr. Oswell, for example, in another article in the same voUniie, 

 gives the Cape buffalo a very bad character indeed, more especially when 

 stalked in thick covert, where it will craftily double back alongside its 

 track, and then suddenly rush out on its unsuspecting pursuer. On the 



