COLORATION OF GAME ANIMALS. 57 



of smell. The usual procedure of wary game is to graze upwind. As long as they 

 proceed in this way, and especially If they zigzag across the wind, they know that 

 all the ground in front of them is clear of danger. As they are continually moving 

 forward, anything wishing to approach them from behind must move after them, 

 and their quickness in seeing a moving object should therefore enable them to 

 detect anything downwind. It seems that the flanks are the chief source of danger, 

 and for game that do not zigzag much a very real danger, for an enemy lying 

 still on a flank may remain undetected. Bush animals are very quick of hearing, 

 and so have an additional chance of locating anything approaching from an 

 unguarded side. Moreover, anything moving through the bush must make a certain 

 amount of noise. 



Animals living in long, thick grass ought to be seldom or never surprised as, 

 while they themselves are hidden from sight at only a few yards' distance, anything 

 approaching can be heard by them for a long distance. 



Their sense of hearing must serve the dwellers in bush and long grass in good 

 stead during the night, when the plainsfolk are especially open to attack from 

 downwind. 



As long as the plain-dweller can detect the lion at a reasonable distance it has 

 no difficulty in outdistancing it. For lions are only capable of short bursts 

 of great pace, and cannot run down game once the latter have any start. If when 

 disturbed the game were to run straight upwind they would then avoid running 

 into any other lion which might be lying in wait at a prearranged spot to have the 

 game driven to them. However, these prearranged drives by lion must usually take 

 the form of a party concealing themselves on a flank or downwind, while the 

 approaching lion drives from the other flank or upwind. On the plains matters are 

 made easier for the lion than in the bush ; it seems to me that they are made too easy, 

 owing to the plain-dwellers being so lacking in intelligence and acuteness. They 

 seem to take no precautions, and to be quite indifferent as to the fate in store for them. 

 Unlike the bush game, they do not only graze upwind, but can be seen grazing 

 downwind, and, what is even more reckless, approaching water and cover downwind. 



From careful observation of these plain-dwellers I feel certain that they are 

 almost indifferent to the lion's roar and to the presence of lions in their midst. They 

 seem to know when a lion is full fed, and will then let him approach within 

 practically a few yards of them. It is only when he actually rushes at one of the herd 

 that the rest turn and fly. 



I often think that the nightly terror of beasts of prey, which animals are supposed 

 to suffer from, is greatly exaggerated. The plain-dwellers exhibit no terror or panic 



I 



