ii. THE GAME — CARNIVORA, PACHYDERMATA, ETC. 19 



went to the pool, but left hurriedly when we approached with lighted grass, so I did 

 not get a shot. A big male lion will weigh from 40olb. to 5oolb., but it all depends 

 on his age and condition, for at times lions become very thin from starvation and age. 



Warthog {Phacochcerus cethiopicus). — Very abundant in this country, 

 especially so near rivers and swamps. They go about singly or in pairs, and a 

 male will sometimes be seen running with a sow and a litter of young ones. A 

 young warthog is very good eating, but the old beasts are tough and rank. They 

 are grotesque-looking animals with the large warts on their faces, and grey, wrinkled 

 hide. From their appearance it might be thought that they were dangerous, but 

 they seldom act offensively. 



I have killed a large number of them and only found two that tried to come for 

 me when wounded, and they were both sows. The boars have very sharp tusks, 

 and, as they are strongly built animals, they could do damage if they liked. After 

 the annual grass fires take place they will often be found grubbing about in the ashes 

 for the salt, and for roots under the ground. Places will be seen in the bush where 

 they have been busy in this way. They are easily killed, much more so than a 

 duiker. The top tushes of a male will measure about lain. if he is an old animal. 

 This measurement is for tush when removed from skull. The weight of the animal 

 I would put at about i6olb. The colour of the hide is slaty grey. 



BuSHPiG {Potamochaerus choeropotamus). — Not quite so common as the wart- 

 hog, and is generally only seen in hilly country, where it is sometimes found in 

 numbers. These animals do great damage to the natives' gardens, and in places 

 where they are plentiful the natives make strong fences round their crops to keep 

 the beasts out. The bushpig is slightly heavier than the warthog, and is supposed 

 to be a pluckier animal. The tushes are small, but solid, the top ones being usually 

 much worn down. I think a big male bushpig would weigh quite i8olb. 



Gnu {Connochostes taurinus). — Often called the blue wildebeest. A variety 

 exists in Nyasaland and the adjacent territory of Portuguese East Africa which 

 has a white face marking. In Northern Rhodesia there are a few gnu near the 

 Luangwa river, and these are similar to the Southern type, which have no white face 

 mark. The colour of the hide is a purple blue, and the animal has a black tail. 

 The skin is very beautiful, but the animal is ugly and badly formed, and the head not 

 much of a trophy except for its peculiar shape. 



A good head will measure from 28^1. to 3oin. outside spread, and the weight of 

 the animal be between 6oolb. and 7oolb. 



Being rather uncommon in this country these animals can only be shot on the 

 £2^ licence, and then only a limited number. 



