HOW TO LOOK FOR SPOOR. 13 



the waterbuck, however, varies materially. When feeding on moist, green grass, it is 

 more like that of cattle, while at other times it somewhat resembles that of eland. 



To return to the tracks of animals, it can be taken as a general rule that those 

 of the hind foot of such animals as hyaena, jackal, and cats are narrower than those 

 of the fore foot, but often longer ; while with buck and elephant the hind track is 

 usually smaller than the fore, but more oblong in shape. 



Sometimes, as in the case of eland, this is very marked, and the spoor of the 

 hind foot might pass as that of a different animal. 



It must be remembered that in the usual walk of a buck, jackal, &c., the spoor of 

 the hindfoot is generally in front of that of the fore, while at a jog it is on the top or 

 slightly behind. 



In the walk of a cat or genet, that of the hind is usually exactly over the fore, and 

 it is for this reason that the hind foot has been shown in the illustrations, as it is the 

 one more generally seen. 



The lengths of stride of the different animals at their different paces have also to 

 be learnt. 



Knowing this enables spoor to be seen and followed much quicker, as one knows 

 how far to look in front for the next step. 



Some native hunters pace in the stride of the animal when following up its 

 tracks, placing their feet immediately behind each spoor, and observing every step of 

 the animal. When the spoor is lost, only the ground close in front of the foot has to 

 be searched for it. 



The hoofs of galloping buck always spread out, while at a walk the two halves 

 often touch ; this is notably the case with sable. 



The two halves of the foot sometimes only spread in front, while behind it looks 

 in the spoor as if they were joined. (See spoor of eland or bushbuck in Part II., both 

 of which may at times assume the shape of that given for buffalo and kudu 

 respectively, but smaller.) 



With lion, leopard, hyaena, jackal, and cats it will be noticed that the pad of the 

 inside claw is the shortest and thickest, and that of the outside claw has a concave 

 curve opposite it in the large rear pad. 



The rear pad is bigger and extends more on the outside than the inside. (For 

 illustration see spoor of F. serval in Part II.) 



With baboon, the mark of the ball of the counterpoised digit can be seen. 



We now come to the most difficult part of the recognition of tracks, and that 

 is, to tell apart two animals of the same size and species. If the reader can do this 

 easily he will be beyond the need of taking any hints that these elementary pages can 



