CHAPTER VIII 



ZOOLOGY 



INTRODUCTION 



ZOOLOGY in the wide sense bears the same relationship to animal 

 husbandry and fisheries as botany does to arable farming and 

 forestry. That branch of the subject which relates to fisheries is, 

 * however, reserved for the next chapter, and insects are considered 

 in Chapter X. Furthermore, the nutrition, breeding and diseases 

 of domestic animals are studied in Africa, not by zoologists in the 

 usual sense but by veterinarians or experts in animal husbandry, 

 whose work is considered in subsequent chapters, so the only 

 branch of the subject which remains for consideration here is that 

 part of the wild fauna which lives on land, and birds. 



This fauna consists of the mammals, reptiles, birds, and the 

 multitudes of lesser forms of life such as worms and snails. Africa 

 is unique in the variety of its mammals, many of them of great 

 bulk: some are important to man as sources of food, others as 

 destroyers of man, his stock, or his crops, and many are concerned 

 in the spread of disease. Some reptiles are of direct value for skins 

 or even food, others, such as crocodiles and snakes, because they 

 are predators. Many birds must also be placed on the list of man's 

 enemies on account of the damage they do to crops, to fish sup- 

 plies, and even to young domestic animals; others provide him 

 with food, sport, and ornaments, or destroy insect pests. 



The numerous smaller forms of life are not sufficiently important 

 in human affairs to warrant special mention, but it must be remem- 

 bered that earthworms are among the principal agents in agricul- 

 ture, and that land-snails are used for food in many parts. There 

 are regions in Africa where snailing rights play a part in systems of 

 land tenure. But apart from the significance of particular species 



