PREFACE ix 



of Natural History collection, and a considerable number of 

 smaller collections of game animals. 



The country traversed by the writers jointly during their 

 association on the Smithsonian African expedition in 1909- 

 19 10 covered the region of the Athi Plains north to Macha- 

 kos and westward to Nairobi, thence from Kijabe southwest 

 to the Loita Plains or Sotik district and northeast to Lake 

 Naivasha. From this point a journey was taken over the 

 summit of the Aberdare Range through Nyeri to the south- 

 west slopes of Mount Kenia. Returning to Nyeri the jour- 

 ney was continued northeast, skirting the slopes of Kenia to 

 its northeast base at Meru. A further expedition was made 

 from Meru northward to the Northern Guaso Nyiro River, 

 continuing up country along its course and across the Lai- 

 kipia Plains to Nyeri and thence to Naivasha. A journey 

 into the Uasin Gishu country was made from the summit of 

 the Mau Escarpment at Londiani northwest to Sirgoit Lake 

 and the headwaters of the 'Nzoia River. After returning 

 from the Uasin Gishu Plateau the journey was continued 

 westward by way of a steamer across the Victoria Nyanza to 

 Entebbe and Kampala, and thence by way of Hoima to 

 Butiaba on the northeast shore of the Albert Nyanza. Em- 

 barking at this point in boats the route led down the Nile to 

 Rhino Camp near the present site of Wadelai, but upon the 

 opposite or west bank of the river. From Rhino Camp the 

 voyage was continued after an interval to Nimule and thence 

 overland to Gondokoro. A trip was made westward of 

 Rejaf. Here the voyage was farther continued down the 

 Nile to Lake No at the entrance of the Bahr el Ghazal and 

 thence to Khartoum, where the natural history operations 

 were discontinued. This journey covered a period of eleven 



