88 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



The young males take after the cows and do not assume the rounded shape till 

 fully mature. 



The difference in size of hind and fore feet is very remarkable, the hind being 

 shorter and very much narrower than the fore, as the following measurements will 

 show : — 



Eland bull spoor : right fore, S^in., right hind, Sxfi"- lorig i "g^t fore, 4iin., right 

 hind, 3fin. broad. 



Habitat. 



Chiefly wooded country, coming out on to the dambos often morning and evening, 

 but never stopping long. Prefer fiat country. 



Habits. 



Are found in large herds, sometimes numbering over one hundred. They do not 

 mind the neighbourhood of villages, and frequently come into the plantations at 

 night to feed on the maize. 



When camping at a village their tracks should be looked for in the fields on 

 leaving in the early morning, and the spoor, if found, may then be got on in good time. 



They do not travel far during the day when in herds, but a lone bull will often 

 cover a good distance, and will turn and wind about considerably instead of keeping in 

 one direction. 



They are very destructive, and break off from trees large branches and strips of 

 bark, which at first sight might almost look like the handiwork of elephant. 



A herd will frequently graze down wind, which other animals seldom do. 



The colour varies from yellowish with stripes to, in an old bull, a slaty blue, and 

 nearly hairless. 



The bull has an enormous dewlap, which will help to distinguish him from the 

 cow, which has a smaller one. 



Lion are very fond of eland, and will be found in the vicinity of a herd almost as 

 much as they are in that of buffalo. 



We think that on the whole solid bullets will be found more satisfactory for this 

 animal and buffalo, and, for raking shots, expanding would be most unsuited. 



The horns of the female are more slender and often longer than those of the male. 



Eland do not stampede in the way other animals do, but generally commence at 

 a trot, and often maintain this pace. 



Notes. 



