6 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



are soft from feeding on green, wet grass, but in the dry season often become firm 

 and well defined in shape, as in our sketch. 



Also the colour is no guide, as this varies considerably, except in the case of the 

 hyaena, which is generally white. 



The shape and method of deposit is what one must judge by, and the size 

 in some animals gives an indication as to whether it is from a male or female, 

 as with the elephant. 



Of course, spoor often helps in deciding the droppings adjacent, and vice versa. 



The spoor of young animals of the larger antelope might sometimes be mistaken 

 for adults of a smaller species, but again the spoor of young will seldom or ever be 

 found alone, and the footprints of the parents will furnish a clue to their identity. 

 We have done our utmost to avoid laying down the habits of animals in too dogmatic 

 a way, as we are convinced that those of individuals of the same species differ 

 greatly. 



Under given conditions, animals of the same species may usually do the same 

 thing, but there are always sure to be many exceptions, and, moreover, one would 

 never meet two animals under exactly the same conditions. 



Then, again, habits differ tremendously according to locality, owing to the 

 influence of climate, water, grazing, and on account of the natives who inhabit those 

 localities. 



Remarks about the actions of animals that live in a country which has for 

 generations been inhabited by hunting tribes, do not necessarily hold good about the 

 sarne animals when living near pastoral tribes. 



So before proceeding any further, we would ask our readers to allow more 

 individuality to animals than they are usually given credit for. 



