The Zoologist — November, 1868. 1433 



clown and wilfully broken much more than they had consumed. The 

 Arabs knew nothing about guns, or their effect upon elephants, and I 

 felt quite sure that a few nights with the heavy rifles would very soon 

 scare them from the fields." — p. 249. 



I have already cited a vivid description of the rush of water into 

 the river-bed, dried by the long-continued and uninterrupted influence 

 of a tropical sun. The torrent sweeps everything before it in its 

 impetuous course, and even the bulky elephant, though so fond of his 

 bath, is unable to stand against the weight of waters. Elephants, 

 giraffes, gazelles, alike share the dangers of the sudden influx of water, 

 and, unable to stem the torrent, perish in the attempt. 



" A dead elephant floated down the river to-day ; this is the second 

 that has passed within the last few days ; they have been most pro- 

 bably drowned in attempting to cross some powerful torrent tributary 

 to the Atbara. As usual, upon the fact becoming known, the entire 

 village rushed out, and, despite the crocodiles, a crowd of men 

 plunged into the river about a quarter of a mile below Sofi, and swim- 

 ming out they interrupted the swollen carcase, which was quickly 

 covered with people ; they were carried several miles down the river 

 before they could tow the body to shore, by ropes fastened to the 

 swimmers. Afterwards, there was a general quarrel over the division 

 of the spoil : the skin, in sections, and the tusks, were brought home 

 in triumph." — p. 178. 



The same reason which compelled me to omit the exciting scenes 

 of elephant-hunting must be my excuse for passing over, without even 

 a syllable of comment, the chase of the rhinoceros and hippopotamus ; 

 but I cannot forego the pleasure of presenting my readers with just 

 one glimpse of the hippopotamus at home. 



" The hippopotami were in great numbers ; many were lying be- 

 neath the shady trees upon the banks, and splashed into the water as 

 we appeared ; others were basking in large herds upon the shallows ; 

 while the young calves, supported upon the backs of their mothers, 

 sailed about upon their animated rafts in perfect security." — p. 376. 



And here let me introduce a word for the donkeys : of zebras we hear 

 nothing, but the ass of Abyssinia appears to have received Sir Samuel's 

 approbation. The interesting question whether this "high-actioned" 

 animal is really the original of our donkey is not discussed, but the 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. III. 3 G 



