SIGHT OR SCENT. 12/ 



reed-buck, crossed me. I did not fire at it, as its 

 manner was most peculiar ; in fact, it looked dazed 

 and quite uncertain in which way it was to go, at 

 the same time uttering a peculiarly plaintive call. 

 Soon after it was followed by a large snake, pursuing 

 its course with unusual velocity. I regretted after- 

 wards that I did not wait to see the finale. My 

 dislike to reptiles caused me to give this one a couple 

 of charges of buck-shot, which effectually finished 

 its supposed bloodthirsty intentions. Now, if this 

 serpent was in pursuit of the buck, which I strongly 

 suspect it was, it could only have been caried on by 

 scent, for its head was close to the ground, and the 

 surface it traversed was covered with grass and 

 brush many inches high. The whole features of 

 the incident struck me at the time * as exactly 

 resembling what I have often witnessed at home, 

 a weazel or stoat pursuing a rabbit or hare, and 

 there is no question that the first-mentioned animals 

 do so by nose. 



