3 o6 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



most numerous and widely distributed. I have met 

 him nearly everywhere throughout the Highlands, but 

 only once in exceptionally large numbers, that being 

 on the Yatta plains in 1 9 1 1 . 



Wildfowl are rich in variety in the Protectorate, but 

 unfortunately they cannot be seriously regarded from a 

 sporting point of view. 



Seven or eight years ago the duck shooting in Lake 

 Naivasha was quite good ; Sir Donald Stewart, Mr. 

 R. J. Stordy, and two more guns on one occasion 

 certainly killed more than 1 50. Year by year since then 

 the number of ducks on the lake has decreased and 

 their shyness has increased, till now it is a lucky 

 gunner who gets more than half a dozen. The other 

 large lakes, the rivers, and especially the small reed- 

 locked pieces of water, all contain duck, and generally 

 a goose or two ; but I know nowhere where by flight- 

 ing or any other method a large bag can be obtained. 

 During the last six or seven years the rainfall 

 throughout the Protectorate has probably been a 

 good deal below normal, and certainly not only have 

 the greater lakes sunk considerably but many smaller 

 pieces of water have dried up altogether. This 

 circumstance very likely to a great extent accounts for 

 the diminution of wildfowl, a diminution which, it may 

 be hoped, is only temporary. 



For all species of bird-shooting a dog is generally 

 essential and always desirable. He may be either a 

 pointer, retriever, or spaniel. Unless bred in the 

 country, the last two feel the heat a good deal but 

 those born in the Protectorate seem pretty well inured. 

 Mr. Archer, District Commissioner of the desert 

 country round Marsabit, breeds a race of liver and 

 white spaniels which are indefatigable on the hottest 



