500 APPENDIX D 



the snow-line for a mile without seeing any traces of large animals, 

 although leopards and smaller cats sometimes wander to this 

 height. The groove-toothed rat {Otomys) was numerous in the grass 

 bordering the glacial lakes at a height of 15,000 feet : so were the 

 big mountain hyrax ; and Mearns shot one of these animals at 

 15,500 feet, by a snow-bank; it was the highest point at which 

 any mammal was collected. Various kinds of rats and shrews 

 were numerous about the 13,700-foot camp. Above 12,000 feet 

 only three small birds were seen : a long-tailed sunbird, a stone- 

 chat, and a fantail warbler. 



On the entire Mount Kenia trip 1,112 birds, of 210 species, were 

 collected ; 1,320 mammals and 771 reptiles and batrachians were 

 collected, but the species represented were much fewer. Mearns 

 also made an excellent collection of plants and a good collection of 

 invertebrates. Fresh-water crabs were numerous in the streams up 

 to 10,000 feet, frogs went as high as 10,700, a chameleon was 

 taken at 11,000, and a lizard at 12,100. 



Loring ascended the mountain to the base of the pinnacle, at 

 about 10,500 feet. He started from the highest camp, where the 

 water froze each night. The ascent was easy, and he carried his 

 camera ; but the glare of the snow gave him snow -blindness. 



