INTRODUCTION 



Ever since its discovery by Sir Henry Stanley in 



1888, the great range of mountains in Equatorial 



Africa, known as Ruwenzori, or the ' Mountains of 



the Moon,' has attracted the attention of naturalists 



in all parts of the world, especially in Europe 



and America. The isolated position, and the great 



altitude attained by the forest-clad, snow-capped 



peaks, rising to nearly 17,000 feet, made it certain 



that a rich and peculiar Fauna and Flora must await 



the investigations of the explorer. 



With a view to benefiting the British Museum 



(Natural History), I therefore determined, if possible, 



to be first in the field ; but the task of raisino- 



sufficient funds for the purpose of sending out a large 



and properly equipped expedition to thoroughly 



explore all parts of the range took more time to 



achieve than I had at first contemplated. At last, 



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