PREFACE ix 



due to the kind encouragement and Inspiration I 

 had received from himself. This request met with 

 a most kind and generous response, for wnich I 

 shall ever feel most grateful, for, in the midst of 

 all his multifarious and harassing public duties, 

 President Roosevelt contrived to find the time to 

 write an introduction to my book, which adds to it 

 a most interesting and valuable chapter. 



The title I have given to my book, African 

 Nature Notes and Reminiscences, though it perhaps 

 lacks terseness, nevertheless exactly describes its 

 scope, and although the chapters dealing with the 

 "Tse-tse" Fly and the subject of Protective Colora- 

 tion and the Influence of Environment on large 

 mammals may have no interest except for a small 

 number of naturalists, I trust that much of the 

 matter contained in the remaining seventeen articles 

 will appeal to a much wider public. 



I must once more acknowledge my indebtedness 

 to President Roosevelt, not only for the very 

 interesting *' Foreword " he has contributed to this 

 book, but also for the constant encouragement he 

 has given me during its preparation. 



My best thanks are also due to Mr. Max C. 

 Flelschmann of Cincinnati for the very remarkable 

 account which will be found at the end of Chapter 

 X. of the struggle between a crocodile and a 

 rhinoceros, of which he was an eye-witness ; as 

 well as to my friend Mr. E. Caldwell for the great 

 pains he has taken to render the ten illustrations 

 emanating from his able pencil as lifelike as 

 possible. 



As it is possible that some of those who may 

 glance through this book may be versed in South 



