128 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



They stalk game in the dambos at night, but for l^'ing up during the day prefer 

 cool, damp bush, although occasionally put up in grass country. They do not seem 

 to care for rocky country during the day as the heat of the rocks burn their pads. 



Habits. 



A lion with one or two lionesses most commonly met with, more rarely in small 

 troops, but as many as fifteen have been recorded as seen together, although doubt- 

 less a number of these were young or immature animals. 



They usually stalk the larger game, but when there are two or three lion hunting 

 together after smaller buck, such as impala and puku, one will round up and drive the 

 game by going round in a semi-circle and roaring, while the others will lie down quietly 

 to catch any game which may be driven to them. 



After a blank drive the latter will roar, to tell the one that is driving, and the two 

 parties will move parallel to each other to a new spot and commence operations again. 



In stalking, of course, they are perfectly silent, and when one is heard roaring it 

 usually means that he has already fed. 



A lion will often pull down wounded game if it crosses his path, or if he gets on the 

 scent ; he will feed on a carcase that has been left out at night. 



In killing game he stalks up wind as close as possible and then makes a swift 

 rush, seizing his prey at the top of the neck where it joins the shoulders, and all the 

 time using his claws on the head, neck, and body, which, combined with his weight, 

 soon brings the animal to the ground. 



Sometimes game manages to escape him, and we have seen a roan with a stump 

 tail and old scars on the buttocks. 



Many beasts, such as buffalo and zebra, have had similar escapes. 



An old bull buffalo will give a lion a lively time, and in following a herd a lion 

 generally picks out a calf or immature animal. 



Having killed his beast he will generally begin on the bowels and back quarters, 

 but on the first night of his kill he hardly touches any meat, but will drink the blood. 

 While hunting they often make a grunting sound which can be heard a great distance, 

 and when put up during the day will go off making this sound. 



On a still night a lion's roar can be heard many miles, and if there are both 

 lion and lioness, the difference in the volume of sound and the key can be heard, and 

 is very distinctive. At the season of year when the Masuku berries are ripe and fall 

 it is stated by the natives that lion will feed on them, and we think it is quite possible, 

 for though we have not proved it, we know that many other carnivorous animals 

 change their diet in this way. 



