APPENDIX. 259 



GIRAFFE. 



Native Names. 



Swahili Twiga Kitaita Ndiga. 



(occasionally Tigwa is heard). Masai 01-o-ado-kiragata. 



Kikuyu Ndolga. Luganda Entuga. 



Kikamba Ndwia. 



This animal is essentially a dry thorn-bush-country dweller. The maximum height of an 

 adult bull is, perhaps, 18 feet. When alarmed it moves off at what appears to be a slow, stately 

 gallop, but which, in reality, is a rapid pace. It possesses exceptionally good eyesight, and is a 

 difficult animal to stalk when shy. In many East African haunts, however, it is so seldom shot 

 at that it is fairly tame. Giraffe are found in the following localities : — Athi River, right bank 

 and east of 01 Doinyo Sapuk ; west of Ithanga Hills ; right bank of Tana, toward Mumoni, 

 (common) ; the waterless tracts between the railway and the middle Tana ; edge of Taru Desert ; 

 in the reserve near Makindu ; in the reserve on German border; Lemek Plains; near Rudolf, 

 both sides. 



The reticulated giraffe is found in the Borana country and in Northern Jubaland ; Beskaya 

 Plains, Jubaland; Middle Tana; north and north-west of Elgon ; east of Nimule ; near 

 Gondokoro, and hear Rejaf, on the Nile. 



GNU, WHITE-BEARDED BRINDLED. 



Native Names. 



Swahili Nyumbu Kavirondo Eriwo (?). 



(this word also means a mule). Masai 0-engat. 



The East African variety of the brindled gnu is called the white-bearded brindled gnu. 

 From all accounts, it used to occur in great numbers in this country, especially on the Athi 

 Plains. It is now much more scarce, and, moreover, seems to have fully appreciated the value 

 of the game reserve as a sanctuary. This animal, of late years, more than any other animal 

 perhaps, has left the north-eastern side of the railway line for the south-western. At any rate, 

 herds are often seen in the reserve, whereas they are seldom seen out of it. 



The colouring and markings of a bull are as follows : — 



Mouth, nostrils, and face jet black (the Nyasaland variety has a white blaze on the face). 

 Grey beard and long grey hairs on throat. Black and grey mane. Tail with very long black 

 hairs. Main colour of body, dark grey with streaks of brownish hair. 



The animals inhabit open plains and are never seen in bush-country. They graze in 

 compact herds, with solitary sentinels several hundred yards from the herd on exposed sides. On 

 being alarmed these sentinels gallop back to the herd. Often when a herd is grazing in a hollow 

 one or more of these sentinels may be seen standing on the top of ridges and out of sight of the 

 herd. At such times they might easily be mistaken for solitary bulls. If, however, they are put 

 to flight and followed, they will be found to have joined a herd. 



