416 NEW FIELDS TO CONQUER. 



During a reception at the home of F. A. Knowles, a native 

 band from the Catholic mission rendered the "Star Spangled 

 Banner," and then sang the words first in English and later in 

 their own language. The Colonel said he was delighted. 



The expedition got under way for Hoima on December 23. 

 Colonel Roosevelt and Kermit made a side trip to hunt leopards, 

 and rejoined the expedition the following day. As it left the 

 expedition was made up of seven white hunters and scientists, 

 300 porters, seven tent boys, six skinners, five gun-bearers, four 

 grooms for the four mules, and two cooks. 



The party camped on the night of December 27 at Katwe, 

 eight miles beyond Kabula Mliro. The hunters had covered 

 fifty-four miles since leaving Kampala. The immediate objective 

 point was Kisingo, fifteen miles from Katwe. 



A new animal was discovered in British East Africa b}^ 

 Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. This new animal, the first announce- 

 ment of whose discovery was made at the Smithsonian Institution 

 January 3, is a hitherto unknown species of otocyon, to which 

 officials of the scientific organization have given the specific name 

 of vergatus. It is a small mammal, closely resembling a fox. 



"Otocyon Rooseveltus," as a cognomen for the new animal, 

 would make an appropriate designation and one which would have 

 perpetuated the name of the former President as the discoverer of 

 the species, but the Smithsonian officials, perhaps fearing the 

 discoverer would object, decided to make its specific name vergatus, 

 meaning striped. 



The otocycn vergatus is generally buff in color and it has 

 been found by Mr. Gerrit Miller, of the National Museum Staff at 

 Washington, to differ slightly from otocyon megalotis, which is 

 found farther south in Africa, especially in color and in the 

 characteristics of its teeth and skull. The otocyon is peculiar to 

 Africa and is not represented in the United States, but resembles 

 in color the kit fox of the Western plains. The skull of this new 

 form closely resembles that of the gray fox of our native fauna. 



Colonel Roosevelt and party arrived at Hoima on January 3. 

 The Colonel killed a bull elephant with tusks weighing no 

 pounds while the party was in camp at Kisingo. 



