24 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



If the blood is frothy it is a sure indication of a lung shot. A wounded beast 

 generally leaves the herd, so if it goes off with it, on following, look carefully to see if 

 an animal has branched off. It also often doubles on its tracks, so whenever an 

 isolated patch of cover is come to, and you think it is lying up there, if there is any 

 possibility of its getting your wind it would be best to make a detour and come in 

 from the other side, noticing if the spoor leaves it, in which case little time would be 

 wasted, and one would follow up at once. One can't take too much pains about 

 coming up to a wounded animal for the first time, as it often does not go far to lie 

 down, but when disturbed, after the first time it will be more wary, and often travels 

 enormous distances before lying down again. Buffalo especially are fond of lying 

 to leeward of their tracks so as to wind anything coming, and it is sometimes best to 

 walk round to the other side, telling your men to try and give the animal their wind, 

 and you may get a shot as he breaks away. 



Wounded buffalo drink often and roll in the mud. In coming to a pool, if the 

 mud is stirred up you can tell fairly exactly how recently he has drunk. After 

 leaving the muddy ground very often specks of mud are seen hanging to the grass or 

 dropped on the ground, and this would be especially valuable on rocky ground. 



In the same way sand gets into the cracks of the hoofs or sticks on when 

 wet, and is rubbed off on the grass. In the early morning, when the dew is lying 

 in beads on the grass, it will be noticed that the beads of dew have been shaken 

 off, and sometimes in a difficult place, where there are many tracks in the grass, 

 this is the only sign. Sand, when kicked up over the grass, often sticks on, even 

 after the sun has dried up the dew. 



The position of the wound can be fairly well located from the blood spoor 

 where branches and grass have been in the way or rubbed against the animal's 

 flanks. Pools of blood are sometimes seen where the animal has stood, and if he 

 has lain down frequently it shows he is badly hit. 



It is quicker to follow the blood spoor than the tracks, but the latter should 

 be kept sight of as much as possible, as the blood spoor has a way of suddenly 

 stopping. It is when this happens, and the animal again rejoins the herd, that 

 being able to recognise the spoor of an individual animal is of such use. 



Blood spoor is shown on twigs crossing the track long after that on the 

 ground has ceased, so in following the tracks every twig, especially the stiff ones, 

 which cross the track about the height of the wound should be carefully 

 examined so as to verify the tracks. 



If hit in the shoulder or hip the animal will probably go short on that side and 

 tread lighter with the foot. 



