With Flashlight and Rifle -* 



and well nourished. My photographs have helped to 

 prove this fact. 



Giraffes do not dwell exclusively on the plains. At 

 certain seasons of the year they find a refuge in the 

 mountain woods, up to a height of 7,000 feet. This 

 generally happens at the beginning of the drought. They 

 do not, however, frequent the primeval forests. 



One of my most interesting photographs is undoubtedly 

 that of an old giraffe bull, in company with two aged male 

 elephants. For weeks I observed this trio in the forests 

 of the west Kilimanjaro district, anxious for the moment 

 when a ray of sunlight would enable me to take a snapshot. 

 But the usual rain-clouds of this period I am speaking 

 of the month of June prevents the sun's rays from 

 reaching the west side of the mountains. Only at night 

 time do they disappear ; early in the morning they are 

 always hanging over the mountainous district. 



After a long wait in the cold mist-like rain, and 

 without a fire, I was at last rewarded by a few minutes 

 of sunshine. This enabled me to take several snapshots, 

 but only from a distance of at least 400 paces. Of course 

 it was necessary to seize the opportunity just at the 

 moment when both the elephants and the giraffe were 

 visible among the high vegetation. At any moment the 

 clouds might return and the sun disappear. 



Other giraffes also had at this time found a halting- 

 ground in the thick and luxurious growth of the forest. 

 These herds would often remain for hours in close 

 proximity to the elephants. The three animals in question 

 chose out a place where the rass had grown so tall 



x o * * 



312 



