224 After Big Game in Central Africa 



Rhinoceroses are not found here ; it is probably the 

 same with the lion. 



January, February, March, and April of 1896 pass 

 without extraordinary occurrence. In May we again 

 find ourselves with the expedition in the Angoni 

 country, where I had some interesting fishing and 

 hunting. This month is the one for snakes ; it is 

 about this time they look for a place to deposit 

 their eggs in order that the sun may hatch them. 

 At the same time, birds and a few small insecti- 

 vorous mammals 1 which feed on these eggs, watch 

 for the reptiles, and destroy the greater part 

 of their offspring. Certain waders, such as the 

 serpent - eater and marabout, and certain gallinal, 

 such as the guinea-fowl, eat the snake itself, taking 

 care to break its head before doing so. Owing to all 

 these enemies, the reptiles do not multiply freely. 

 That is much to the benefit of hunters who go 

 about in the bush with bare feet and legs. 2 



One day when I was sitting on a fallen tree waiting 

 for antelopes I saw one of these hideous animals. 

 It passed a few inches from my legs in the 

 shadow of the trunk without my suspecting it ; all 

 that I had heard was an inexplicable rustling of dry 

 leaves when the snake appeared from beneath my 

 tree and made for a place full in the sunshine. Per- 

 ceiving that it had not seen me and that it was 

 moving away, I did not move. It twisted itself 



1 Civet-cats, ichneumon, badger, etc. 



2 For the habits of snakes, and accidents caused by them, see Mes 

 Grandes Chasses, pp. 66, 67, 299. 



