WILD ANIMALS OF THE EASTERN SUDAN 45 



much flatter and wider. If the buffalo is broadside 

 on, the problem appeared to me to be extremely diffi- 

 cult, unless one can actually make out the tuft of 

 hair under the stomach. In the buffalo the sense 

 of smell is just as acute as in the elephant, and the 

 senses of sight and hearing far more so. Indeed, I 

 have read that he has the best hearing of all animals 

 in the bush. Buffalo appeared to me to lie up for the 

 day, indifferently in thick bush, in high grass, or in 

 open gum-forest. It is obvious that so long as the 

 game is unwounded, bush- jungle gives the best, and 

 grass the worst chance to the sportsman. However, 

 I generally found the buffalo in the open gum-forests, 

 where it appeared to lie down at 10 a.m. or so, and to 

 get up again at 4 p.m. or so. Approaching it was then 

 a very difficult matter, and I had to crawl for quite 

 long distances like a serpent, and could not reckon on 

 getting within less than 100 yards at the close 

 of the stalk. Only once in my life have I had to 

 track up and kill a wounded animal of this genus on 

 foot. It is, however, well known that a wounded 

 buffalo invariably takes to thick cover, and there 

 lies in wait for his enemy, usually making a circle 

 and watching the trail from one side. He then 

 charges out at close range, and I have always under- 

 stood that nothing less than flooring him will stop his 

 charge. Flankers should, therefore, be thrown out 

 when tracking a wounded buffalo, so that they may 



