242 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



Buffalo are amongst the most keen-scented of game-animals, being, perhaps, only second to 

 the elephant in this respect. They are also very keen of sight and hearing. 



In old times, when they were amongst the most common of game animals, it would appear, 

 from all accounts, that they were much less suspicious and more easily approached than they 

 are at the present time. Now they are generally difficult to stalk and have seemingly left the 

 open plains for the bush, which circumstance converts them into animals that have to be hunted, 

 tracked, and stalked. I have seen either buffalo or buffalo spoor in the following places: — 

 Ngong Mountain, one herd ; Kedong Valley, one large herd; these wander between Kijabe Station 

 and Mount Lonongot and down the Kedong. They come to a salt-lick close to Kijabe Station. 



On the lower slopes and foot of Kinangop on the western side. 



About the Ithanga Hills and Tana River east of these hills (plentiful). 



On 01 Doinyo Sapuk (Kilima cha mbogo = the buffalo hill), a herd. 



At the edge of Athi Plains north-east of Nairobi. 



On the Fort Hall road near Embu, a large herd ranging backwards and forwards across the 

 road from north to south. 



Near Malindi on coast. 



On the mainland opposite Manda Island, in the Lamu Archipelago. 



On east shore of Rudolf (plentiful). 



Buffalo are also reported from the Beskaya Plains, Jubaland. The German border west 

 of game reserve, and also higher up west of Kisii. 



Kiunga on coast near Lamu. 



Near the Shimba Hills. 



In Uganda they occur plentifully in most districts, and there they are not on the restricted 

 list owing to their numbers and the damage they do. 



The Cape buffalo has lately been divided into a number of sub-species chiefly determined 

 by the shapes and features of the horns. As horns of animals found in the same district, 

 or even the same herd, differ so materially from one another, it seems to me that a comparison 

 of two or three horns from each district would be of little value in judging which of these 

 differences was constant to a type, and which was only an individual variation or a variation 

 hereditary to the offspring of one animal. It seems to me as if the roundness or smoothness of 

 a horn is no guide to determining a variety, as nearly all bulls not fully matured have round 

 and smooth horns which with age become flatter and more crinkled. Again, the breadth of 

 bare skull between the horns would be of little use as a guide, for this space not only differs 

 with age, but also differs with buffaloes of approximately the same age. Yet some of the sub- 

 species have been determined on such evidence as this. 



BUFFALO, CONGO. 



This animal differs from the Cape buffalo in that the horns are less massive and point 

 upwards, instead of spreading at right angles to the head. The colour of the body also differs, 

 for it is more of a reddish colour ; especially is this the case with immature animals, and in a 

 lesser degree with the females. The animal is found plentifully on the west bank of the Nile 

 and around Lake Albert, especially about Mahagi. 



