408 Bibliographical Notice^ 



Mr. Selous's dogs pulled down a large hyajna— a circumstance very 

 unusual with such a powerful beast, and accounted for by the 

 fact that the ends of both lower jaw-bones were gone, as if cut 

 ofi by a bullet ; yet the animal was fat and its coat in excellent 

 condition, though how it obtained a living was a mystery. On the 

 River Sabi Mr. Selous shot five specimens of the rare Lichtenstein's 

 hartebeest, of which a fine pair grace our Xational Collection ; and 

 he subsequently learned how dangerous an antagonist a wounded 

 sable antelope at h&y can prove, four of his best dogs being killed 

 outright by the long curved horns, while four more were badly 

 wounded, one of which died afterwards. 



Of the author's numerous adventures with lions we will not 

 speak, except to mention his defence of the attitude adopted by 

 Landseer for his lions in Trafalgar Square, " with the fore paws 

 straight out, like a dog," which is perfectly correct, for " when on 

 the alert a lion always lies like this, and only bends his paws 

 inwards like a cat when resting thoroughly at his ease."' Ethnologists 

 will be interested in the remarks about the Masarwas, who are the 

 bushmen of Mashunaland ; for these, while possessing in the 

 higliest degree the capability for tracking and using small bows with 

 poisoned arrows, are very superior in stature and general appearance to 

 the fierce stunted bushmen of Cape Colony on the one hand, and the 

 pigmies of the forests of the Aruwimi to the northward. Mr. Selous 

 considers that the " Bushmen are probably the direct descendants 

 of the earliest type of man that appeared in Southern Africa ; and 

 they probably came from the north and spread down the western 

 side of the continent long before the black races appeared upon the 

 scene " — while the Masarwas have improved their physique by an 

 admixture with the Kaffirs, though without losing their natural 

 talent, and retain their ancient language almost intact. The 

 Mashukulumbi, to the north of the bend of the Zambesi — in whose 

 country he was attacked, lost twelve of his people, and barely 

 escaped with his life — are, he thinks, a mixed people, with a strain 

 of Arab or some northern race. It will be remembered that these 

 aggressive warriors molested the Austrian traveller. Dr. Holub. 

 Xo less worthy of commendation are the author's remarks about 

 Zimbabwe and the " ruined cities " of Mashunalaud ; but this is 

 rather a thorny subject and one upon which we will not enter. 



The above are only a few of the items which we have noted from 

 the naturalist's point of view. Every one should read the book 

 through ; and it is enough to add that it is well illustrated, admi- 

 rably edited, and reflects the highest credit on all concerned in its 

 production. H. S. 



