296 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



only seen lynx on one occasion, near Lake 

 N atron. 



Wild Dogs are, unfortunately, fairly numerous, and 

 apparently not decreasing, though man's hand is every- 

 where against them. There appear to be two varieties, 

 one brindled and one black and white. Wild dogs hunt 

 in packs ; one after the other taking up the trail as the 

 leader gets exhausted. Once on the trail, their quarry 

 never escapes, and they will clear a district of game 

 with great celerity. They kill their prey by dis- 

 embowelling it, and a single dog is said to be able to 

 accomplish this on even a large animal like a water- 

 buck, with a single tear. Lions are said to fear them, 

 but I imagine that it would be a famished and bold 

 pack indeed that ventured within the sweep of a lion's 

 tremendous paws. They show little fear of man, and 

 will often wait snarling in a semi-circle till several of 

 their number have fallen before the rifle. There is, I 

 believe, however, no authenticated instance of their 

 attacking human beings ; though no man, however 

 armed, would have a chance against a pack. 



Hycenas are of two varieties : the common, or spotted, 

 and the striped. The former are ubiquitous, and the 

 latter much more numerous than supposed. It may 

 be remembered that the presence of the striped variety 

 in the Protectorate was debated, but the question was 

 set at rest by Mr. Schillings, who trapped, to prove 

 his point, about 120, mostly in the northern deserts. 

 I have also seen striped hyaena in the Ithanga hills, 

 and round Lake Natron. The spotted hyaena is 

 extremely numerous, and is a most useful scavenger. 

 Certain native tribes employ him exclusively as an 

 undertaker. When hungry he becomes very bold and 

 is quite capable of snatching a trophy resting against 



