LION HUNTING ON THE KAPITI PLAINS 91 



They were still some distance away when Hill saw 

 three lions, which had slunk stealthily off ahead of them 

 through the grass. I have called the grass tall, but this was 

 only by comparison with the short grass of the dry plains. 

 In the depression or valley it was some three feet high. In 

 such grass a lion, which is marvellously adept at hiding, 



The third male lion shot by Mr. Roosevelt 

 From a photograph by Edmund Heller 



can easily conceal itself, not merely when lying down, but 

 when advancing at a crouching gait. If it stands erect, 

 however, it can be seen. 



There were two lions near us, one directly in our front, 

 a hundred and ten yards off. Some seconds passed before 

 Hill could make me realize that the dim yellow smear in 

 the yellow-brown grass was a lion; and then I found such 

 difficulty in getting a bead on him that I overshot. How- 

 ever, the bullet must have passed very close indeed, 

 I think it just grazed him for he jumped up and faced us, 



