APPENDIX. 239 



itself. It has only been there to feed at night ; by day it will be concealed amongst the dense 

 undergrowth of the forest. Following the animal to its lying-up place is trying and back- 

 aching work, constituting a continual crouch and crawl, with only an occasional spot in which 

 you can stand upright. 



The forest-hog inhabits the same kind of country as does the bongo, and where the latter 

 is found the former is almost certain to occur. The converse does not follow, as the forest-hog 

 is occasionally found in bush-country, while the bongo never appears to quit the recesses of 

 the forest. 



Habits. — The bongo feeds chiefly at night, and also a little in the early morning and late 

 evening. Throughout the day it lies down, listening intently for sounds. Like the kudu, it has 

 enormous ears, and is quick of hearing. Moreover, the breezes of the forest are very treacherous, 

 and whatever precautions are taken, a change of breeze or a local current cannot be calculated 

 upon, and as often as not the animal gets a whiff of a pursuer, for it has a well-developed 

 sense of smell, like most bush and forest animals. Very seldom in the innermost recesses of the 

 forest is there anything like a strong breeze ; as a rule there are only local currents, varying and 

 intermittent, and it is therefore very difficult to make out the direction. Should there be any 

 well-defined breeze, then, that would be a most favourable time to attempt to approach the animal, 

 as not only are you less liable to be betrayed by scent, but also the rustling of the leaves of the tall 

 trees may prevent small noises made during approach from reaching his acute ears. For the same 

 reason, a good time to approach is during rain, for the pattering of the drops on the leaves drown 

 lesser sounds. However, during the rains the bongo is said to wander farther afield, and so a 

 longer approach to its lying-up place would generally have to be made. 



As you cannot foretell where it will be lying up, you have to endeavour to move as silently 

 the whole time as if you were expecting it to be lying up close by. Half-measures are of no use ; 

 you must always move as if the animal was round the next corner, for it may be there or may be 

 several miles away. 



To move silently enough to give yourself the slightest chance of success, it is necessary to 

 travel at about half a mile or less per hour, and you will also have to move every branch or 

 crackling twig out of the way, besides testing every piece of ground, before bringing the weight 

 of your body upon it, and take numerous other precautions. Following fresh spoor is, of course, 

 the only method of coming up with an animal, and the finding of fresh spoor is the signal for 

 commencing these precautions, whereas, whilst looking for spoor, you only take precautions 

 compatible with covering a certain amount of ground. 



These animals move about in small family parties of three or four, although a male 

 occasionally wanders by himself. 



The spoor is, as a rule, easily seen and easily followed in the soft floor of the forest. Where 

 the ground is carpeted with shoots, the trampled shoots are obvious enough. Where they are 

 sparse the spoor-marks themselves are easily seen. Marks of browsing should be looked for, as 

 these signs will tell of not only fresh spoor, but also where the animals are in the habit 

 of feeding. With nettles and the nettle-like plant they bite off the tops, and the white severed 

 tips may be noted. 



The bongo is accustomed to uproot small trees and saplings with its horns. It digs its 

 horns into the soft ground under some of the roots and then levers them up. It is, I believe, 

 chiefly the males that do this, with the object mainly of eating the roots and stripping off the 

 barks, but not to get at the leaves. 



