THE RHINOCEROS OF THE LADO 411 



panied by about fifty white cow herons. We stood where 

 we were until they had passed; we did not wish to get too 

 close, lest they might charge us and force us to shoot in 

 self-defence. They walked in unhurried confidence, and 

 yet were watchful, continually cocking their ears and rais- 

 ing and curling their trunks. One dropped behind and 

 looked fixedly in our direction, probably having heard us 

 talking; then with head aloft and tail stiffly erect it has- 

 tened after the others, presenting an absurd likeness to a 

 baboon. The four calves played friskily about, especially 

 a very comical little pink fellow which accompanied the 

 leading cow. Meanwhile a few of the white herons rode on 

 their backs, but most of the flock stalked sedately along- 

 side through the burnt grass, catching the grasshoppers 

 which were disturbed by the great feet. When, however, 

 the herd reached the tall grass all the herons flew up and 

 perched on the backs and heads of their friends; even 

 the pink calf carried one. Half a mile inside the edge of 

 the tall grass the elephants stopped for the day beside a 

 clump of bushes; and there they stood, the white birds 

 clustered on their dark bodies. At the time we could dis- 

 tinctly hear the Doctor's shot-gun, as he collected birds 

 near camp; the reports did not disturb the elephants, and 

 when we walked on we left them standing unconcernedly 

 in the grass. 



A couple of hours later, as we followed an elephant 

 path, we came to where it was crossed by the spoor of two 

 rhino. Our gun-bearers took up the trail, over the burnt 

 ground, while Kermit and I followed immediately behind 

 them. The trail wound about, and was not always easy 

 to disentangle, but after a mile or two we saw the beasts. 



