244 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



BUSH-PIG. 



Native Names. 



Swahili Nguruwe. Ogiek (Ravine) Toraiet (?). 



Kikuyu Guruwe. Luganda Embizi. 



This animal is exceedingly common in nearly all the forest, bush, and thick-grass country 

 in British East Africa, Uganda, and the Lado Enclave. As it is a nocturnal animal, it is seldom 

 seen, though its burrows may be seen in most places in great numbers. It is especially common 

 in the coast bush-belt and in the Uganda long-grass countries, as also that of the Lado Enclave, 

 in all of which places it forms the staple food of the bush-lion. 



CHEETAH. 



Native Names. 



Few natives appear to distinguish between this animal and the leopard. 



Somali Wer. Masai Engingyalasho. 



Samburr Engingyalasho. 



These animals are found in small parties on most of the plains of British East Africa. 

 A single animal seen at a distance on the open plains is not at first easy to distinguish from 

 a lioness. I have known Masai and other plain-dwelling natives make this mistake. The coat, 

 in the distance, looks of a uniform yellowish colour like that of a lion. 



The distinguishing points to observe are : — 

 (i.) The shininess of the coat in the sun. (Lions' coats are not so glossy.) 



(ii.) The smallness of the head. 



(iii.) The height of the shoulder blades. 



(iv.) The long waving tail. This last is a most distinguishing mark, and can be seen from 

 afar. Lions, as a rule, keep their tails dragging behind them. 



The differences between a cheetah and a leopard are, that the cheetah has but single spots on 

 its coat, whilst the leopard has groups of spots just as if someone had dipped his fingers into 

 black paint and, without spreading out the fingers, had left finger-prints. The cheetah has 

 a short mane and its legs are very much longer than those of a leopard or even than those 

 of a hunting-dog. The body, head, and tail are of the cat type, whilst the legs and claws are 

 more of the dog type. The foot looks like that of a hyaena, with large, blunt, dog-like claws. 

 The typical cat foot is not capable of standing much hard usage ; cats are only capable of going 

 fast for very short bursts, at other times they walk carefully and daintily. The dog type of foot 

 is one more capable of standing long runs and hard wear and tear, and this kind of foot is 

 essential to such a hunting animal as the cheetah. I have seen cheetahs on the Athi Plains, the 

 Guas Ngiro Plains, and near Nyeri, and also on the Tana River east of the Ithanga Hills. They 

 are reported to occur on most other plains in the Protectorate. 



The animals appear chiefly to hunt small game. I have several times seen them passing 

 close to, or in amongst, a herd of grazing zebra, and the latter did not show the least alarm 

 or concern at their proximity. 



