374 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA, 



the llora of a district can be obtained, particu- 

 larly if one remembers that the best plan of 

 action is to keep a careful eye on the general 

 features of a country, and especially examine any 

 place which seems to be different from the general 

 aspect of the district. Thus, in a country covered 

 usually with grassy plains or scrub, examine any 

 projecting hill where there are rocks, or which 

 may be specially dry and exposed. Also it is well 

 to look out carefully for ravines and the banks of 

 streams, though in the tropics these are usually 

 so dry in summer, and so rapid and swollen in 

 the rains, that the results are often disappointing. 

 Walking along the outside fringe of a wood or 

 forest is usually more productive than proceeding 

 inside, for the conditions within it are usually the 

 same over a wide area, and a very short walk will 

 enable one to pick up all the commoner forms. 



It is a mistake to force one's way through thick 

 jungle, as, if it is at all dense, half an hour may 

 be spent in penetrating 100 yards. During that 

 time one may search a mile and a half on a native 

 path with far less exertion. 



Of course, if settled permanently in a district, 

 these remarks do not apply, as, even supposing 

 only one day in the week is free, every wood and 

 every cranny and hill within ten miles can be 

 explored in the course of a year's stay. 



If the plant is a herb or shrublet under a foot 

 in height, it should be pulled up bodily ; a twig of 



