-^ In a Primeval Forest 



valley at night time, when they make their way down to 

 the river-side to drink.^ It is hard to realise, but they find 

 all the food they need on the high velt. When you examine 

 the stomachs of wild animals that you have killed, you note 

 with wonder the amount of fresh grass and nourishing 

 shrubs they have found to eat in what seem the barrenest 

 districts. The natives of these parts show the same kind 

 of resourcefulness. The Masai, for instance, succeeds most 

 wonderfully in providing for the needs of his herds in regions 

 which the European would call a desert. I doubt whether 

 the European could ever acquire this gift. Out here on the 

 velt we shall catch sight of small herds of waterbuck, never 

 to be seen in the marshes. We shall see at midday, under 

 the bare-looking trees, herds of Grant's gazelles too, and 

 the oryx antelope. Herds of gnus, going through with 

 the strangest antics as they make off in flight, are another 

 feature in the picture, while the fresh tracks of giraffes, 

 eland, and ostriches tell of the presence of all these. 

 Wart-hogs, a herd of zebras in the distance — like a splash 

 of black — two ostrich hens, and a multitude of small game 

 and birds of all descriptions add to the variety. But what 

 delights the ornithologist's eye more than anything is the 

 charming sight of a golden yellow bird, now mating. Up 

 it flies into the sky from the tree-top, soon to come down 

 again with wings and tail outstretched, recalling our own 

 singing birds. You would almost fancy it was a canary. 



^ The Masai distinguish the kinds of grass which their cattle eat and 

 reject. Many kinds of grass with pungent grains, such as Andropogon 

 contortus, L., are rejected entirely. Yet the tough bow-string hemp is to 

 the taste of many wild animals — the small kudu, for instance. 



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