XVIII EL BOGOI TO MOMBASA 419 



occupied a similar position in reference to that of the east 

 coast and the western Senegalensis or " korrigum." 



I am convinced that our good friends of the Museum 

 need very much more extensive series of specimens to enable 

 them to judge of the limits and relations of species. Single 

 individuals are not much to go upon, they differ among them- 

 selves to a certain extent in the same locality (I am speaking 

 now not of any particular species), and age is a factor that 

 has to be taken into account, immature specimens being often 

 very misleading. If I may venture to say so (though it is 

 not without fear and trembling that I hazard any suggestion), 

 I think it would be an immense enhancement of the instruct- 

 iveness of our national collection if more specimens of the 

 most interesting varieties of allied species were exhibited in 

 the public galleries. It is true that the authorities are most 

 courteous and obliging in showing any particular specimens 

 to an inquirer ; but, when they are stowed away in private 

 rooms, it prevents any group being examined as a whole, by 

 any one who wishes to study it at leisure without giving 

 trouble. The idea that only representative specimens should 

 be exhibited in the cases is, I think, a mistake ; the display 

 should, I maintain, be made as comprehensive as possible, 

 otherwise the collection can only be, generally speaking, for 

 the benefit of a {Q.yN savants. 



A few of the conclusions which my experience of the 

 elephant of Equatorial Africa has led me to may be worth 

 recording. First, as to size. I believe that in the regions 

 where I have been hunting he attains his greatest dimensions, 

 both as to bodily bulk and weight of ivory. That renowned 

 South African hunter and most careful observer, Mr. F. C. 

 Selous, puts the average height of full-grown bulls at from 

 ten feet to ten feet six inches. I will give the measurements 

 of some I have measured myself, which, while among the 

 largest I have killed, were not, as far as I know, in any sense 

 exceptional, among fully matured bull elephants of these 



