368 ZOOLOGY 



eastern part of the Uganda Protectorate. I have seen them myself in 

 the vicinity of Lake Baringo. 



The hunting dog {Lycaon pictus) is abuiulantly found throughout the 

 Protectorate, especiallv in the north-east and centre aud in the Nile 

 Province. Mr. Doggett and the present writer are both disposed to thiuk 

 that that curious Abyssinian dog, Canis simensis, extends its range to 

 the north-eastern part of the Uganda Protectorate, and is found on tlie 

 north-eastern flanks of Mount Elgon and in the vicinity of Lake Baringo. 

 But this is only conjecture based on the peculiar bark of this animal, and 

 the sight of what was supposed to be its form in the moonlight. I remember 

 when sojourning on Kilimanjaro many years ago I was strongly of opinion 

 that Canis simensis was found on the flanks of that mountain. 



The otter, probably Lutra maculicoUis, is found in almost all the 

 lakes and most of the rivers of Uganda. It is a very prominent beast in 

 the stories of the Baganda, who greatly value its fur. The skin of this 

 otter is also made into strips for the sandals of kings, princes, and the 

 aristocracy generally in the Kingdom of Uganda and adjoining Bantu 

 countries. 



The white-necked weasel {Pa'cilo;jale albinucha) is found, but not 

 commonlv ; the same thing may be said of the ratel, or honey-badger. 



Amongst the rodents may be mentioned as specially common or 

 remarkalile the handsome squirrels of the genera Sciurus and Xerus, 

 the porcupine {Hystrix galeata), the ground rat * (Thryonomys sivin- 

 derenianus), the Cape jumping hare (Pedetes caffer), and one or more 

 species of hare. 



There are two, or possibly three, species of hyrax in the Uganda 

 Protectorate. Procavia Craiushayi and Procavia Jacksoni are found on 

 Kuweuzori up to the snow-line, on Elgon, and on the Nandi Plateau. 

 In the lower lying country below 4,500 feet, there is a hyrax {Procavia 

 marmota) remarkable in appeai'ance, with long, silky, dark cliocolate- 

 coloured hair and a very large white patch on the back. The hair of 

 this animal falls over its face much as it does in those fancy breeds of 

 guinea-pigs or in a Skye terrier. I kei)t one of these animals some 

 months in captivity, and its favourite food was the flowers of the banana. 

 On the mountain ranges of the Uganda Protectorate the hyrax is a most 

 important animal in the eyes of the natives, as they depend on it almost 

 entirely for clothing and a great deal for food. They are extremely fond 

 of its flesh, and this is the one and only bait which draws them up to 

 the snow-line of Kuwenzori. The beautiful woolly fur of the mountain 

 hyraxes is the principal skin worn l\v the natives of these upland 

 districts as a protection from the cold. INIany hyrax skins are sewn 

 * A creature in appearance like a huge guinea-pig with a short tail. 



