246 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



CROCODILE. 



Native Names. 



Swahili Mamba. Kavirondo Nyang. 



Swahili (Mombasa) &Giriyama Ngwena. „ . rOl-kinos. 



Embei King'ani. (.01-kinyang. 



This reptile is not plentiful in the Protectorate. It occurs on the Tana and is said to be 

 plentiful in the Juba. 



Some thousands of these animals were left high and dry in Jubaland by the drying up of 

 a swamp, and for a long time afterwards some were found lying about in the bush. On the 

 Victoria Nile crocodiles are found in thousands. Just below the Murchison Falls the numbers 

 seen are incredible, and masses of several hundreds may be seen lying out of the water packed 

 closely together. They are also numerous, but not to such an extent, lower down on the Nile. 



I had always imagined until recently that the crocodile crawled flat with its stomach almost 

 touching the ground, as generally depicted in illustrations. In reality, when on land or making 

 its way back into the water, it stands up high on its legs, and the head or belly is a good 

 foot or foot and a half off the ground. In this position it reminds one of the way a chameleon 

 or a lizard stands up with straightened legs and head raised, in an attentive attitude. The 

 reason why the crocodile is usually depicted crawling flat is that it is generally seen on marshy 

 ground, in reeds, or just crawling into the water, in which position the mud, grass, or water 

 hides most of its legs. 



DIK DIK. 



Native Names. 

 Rendile Sagarr. Somali Sakaro. 



There are, I believe, four different kinds of dik dik to be found in British East Africa, viz., 

 Gunther's, Kirke's, Hinde's, and Cavendish's. The dik diks are distinguished by having no knee- 

 pads, but a thick growth of hair on this part. They are generally found in dry country, and 

 occur plentifully along the Tana and northwards towards the Borana. 



DUIKER, BLUE. 



I have seen several little blue duikers in the Lado Enclave, close to the Nile. I believe they 

 also occur on the Uganda side. I do not know to what species of duiker it belongs. Probably 

 the same as the Sudan blue duiker. 



DUIKER, COMMON. 



Native Names. 

 Swahili. No name but Paa for all the little buck. 

 Kikuyu. Sia (?). 



This little forest-dwelling animal does not appear to be very common in British East Africa. 

 It occurs, as a rule, in lower-lying country than the Harvey's duiker. The female has a long 

 black tuft on the head, which at first sight looks like a horn, and so the animal is liable to be 

 ijiistaken for a male. 



