140 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



will be bruised if an animal has trodden on it, even though it be covered by the 

 layer of dry grass on top. In the forest broken twigs on the ground and trampled 

 shoots should be looked for. These shoots are favourite foods of the forest animals, 

 and you should observe if their tops have been bitten off. Owing to the shade and 

 moisture, forest plants, thus browsed off or leaves torn away, retain their freshness 

 much longer than do bush plants. 



The next point to consider is the appearance of the spoor-marks of different 

 ■animals which, as I said before, afford conclusive evidence of the presence in the 

 country of the animal to which they belong. Striking across the spoor of a kudu 

 or other coveted animal will as likely as not cause the hunter to make a stay in 

 that neighbourhood to obtain, if possible, an animal which he would otherwise 

 have missed. If he succeeds in adding the animal to his bag, he has the spoor-mark 

 to thank for giving him the tip. 



The localities inhabited by the common animals and the plain-dwelling animals 

 are so well known that the sportsman is not likely to find any difficulty in discovering 

 their haunts. It is in the obtaining of the so-called rarer game, that is to say, the 

 more shy and retiring animals, that a knowledge of the appearance of their spoor is 

 so valuable. These "rarer" animals are, I believe, really much more widely 

 distributed than is generally thought. It is on account of their shy habits and, 

 perhaps, because of the glamour which the better-known and more easily seen plains 

 animals cast over intending sportsmen that these others so often escape observation. 



I have always found that white men, who have been through, or heard anything 

 of, any particular plain country to which I may be going, can tell me exactly what 

 animals I shall find there ; but this information hardly ever includes any account of 

 the animals to be met with in the bush around, or even the country — bush or 

 forest-^that must be traversed to arrive at one's destination. For instance, 1 might 

 be directed to go to Laikipia Plains, via a route across the Aberdares. I should be 

 told that I should be able to get all the usual forms of game, and also oryx beisa 

 and a northern form of Grant's gazelle, and also, if 1 went further north, Grevy's 

 zebra and the gerenug. I should not, as a rule, be told that on the way to these 

 plains there were rhinos in the bush on the lower slopes, also bushbuck and 

 Harvey's duikers ; nor should I hear that a few bongo and forest-hog might be 

 had on the hill, or that there were a few lions at the higher altitudes with 

 magnificent manes ; that colobus were in the mountain forests, and that occa- 

 sionally black servals were seen. 



Every sportsman says that he is anxious to obtain an animal such as kudu or 

 bongo. Yet will he trek through a kudu and bongo country without a halt, in order 



