6 LARGE GAME. CHAP. i. 



open, but became cautious as I neared the bush, for I had 

 just heard the rhinoceros-birds rise, shrieking, and a 

 heavy gurgling sound made me imagine that the bull 

 must be enjoying a mud bath. Immediately on gain- 

 ing the desired shelter I peeped round it, and there, sure 

 enough, was the unwieldy animal kneeling in the hole, 

 one side already plastered over with black slimy mud, 

 which, if left to itself, would soon cake and protect him 

 from the bites of the enormous gadflies, which, despite 

 the thickness of these animals' hides, are one of their chief 

 pests during summer. He was in a capital position for a 

 shot ; but, just as I raised my gun, he rolled over on to 

 the other side, and waUowed about, forming a deep hollow 

 in the soft mud, and at last extricating himself with a 

 jerk, he came out dripping with mire, and approaching a 

 tree not five yards from me, began to scratch his neck 

 against it, presenting his forehead towards me. 



In the centre of every bull buffalo's head there is a 

 parting, or furrow, where the horns scarcely join, and in 

 which a bullet will very often prove immediately fatal, 

 and though it never exceeds a quarter of an inch, and in 

 the present animal was, from his great age, scarcely per- 

 ceptible, a fancy seized me to make the attempt, as, if I 

 was successful, I should kill him on the spot, and escape 

 the work and danger I should otherwise have to undergo. 

 Just glancing round, therefore, to see where I should 

 make for afterwards, I took aim and fired, at the same 

 instant springing to the other side of the bush, clear of 

 the smoke. As I did so I heard the crack of the ball, and 

 then a singing in the distance told me that it had glanced 

 off; but I had no time to think about it then, for almost 



