KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAE. BAND 48. N:0 5. 19 



Labiatce which grew in quantities in open places in the forest. The bush at the edge 

 of the forest was also a refuge for the Baboons which ravaged among the crops of 

 the natives. 



The primeval forest on the slopes of Kenia exhibits many different types of 

 vegetation. In the lower forest region the foliage of the big trees form a dense roof 

 which does not admit the light, and there is consequently no undergrowth except in 

 certain places where an opening has been made by the fall of some of the old. giants. 

 There a number of young saplings struggle towards the light. Otherwise this forest 

 with its sombre twilight gives the impression of a mighty cathedral with numerous 

 columns. Along the ravines, at the bottom of which a rivulet seeks its way down 

 the mountain, the vegetation is more compact, so to say, entangled with lianse 

 interwoven in the bushes and among the trees. In such localities grow tree-like 

 ferns, Musa, and other luxuriant members of the tropical forest vegetation. At a 

 greater altitude the trees often stand further apart and a dense undergrowth of 

 bushes, sprouts of Abutilon-Vike appearance, taU (2 — SVa ™' or more) herbs etc. is 

 formed. In other places again, probably on more dry ground, the plants are low 

 not reachitig much above the knee of a walking man. Labiatce are especially com- 

 mon but even grass grows here. In a peculiar formation of forest the trees have not 

 straight trunks as usual, but look more like gigantic overgrown bushes with the stems 

 irregularily crooked and branched. In the upper forest region ' clumps of bamboo mix 

 with the trees and become finally dominant. The lower forestregion does not appear 

 to be rich in mammals. The Tree Hyraxes are of course numerous here as well as at 

 higher altitude. Cricetomys and Oenetta stuhlmanni were trapped here. Leopards were 

 said to be common in the lower forest region. They had snatched away three dogs 

 in a few weeks from an Englishman who was collecting rubber there, but we did 

 not see any signs of them. The Kima monkey and the Elephant are found from 

 the lower forest to the bamboos. The Guerezas, which were seen when we passed 

 through the forest, were observed at an altitude of about 2,500 m. or a little more. 

 The trees were here often festooned with Usnea lichens. The little Suni Antelope 

 (Nesotragus) extends to a height of 2,700 m. The Bushbuck and Bushpig appear 

 to be common there as well, and the regular home of the Bongo and the Black 

 Forest Hog is in the region where forest and bamboo mix, to judge from the nume- 

 rous spoors and .droppings seen there. The Wandorobbos ^ have most of their pitfalls 

 dug in the upper forest region. They are of varying size according to the size of 

 the animal for which they are intended, from Elephant to Bushbuck. They are 

 rectangular in shape and very deep but narrow. The scheme appears to be that 

 the animal shall fall down entirely or with the forequarters and be squeezed in be- 

 tween the walls so that it cannot get up again, especially as it does not reach the 

 bottom of the pit with its feet. 



1 On open places at an altitude of 2,500 — 2,700 a number of plants grow which belong to wellknown 

 European genera as Alchemilla, Pinguieula, Trifolium, Thalicfrum, Eubus, Carex, Lycopodium etc. 



^ The dwellings of the Wandorobbos were seen here as well. In some places they inhabited big hollow 

 trees to the interior of which they had made an entrance hole by burning. A bed of dry leaves and firewood 

 was found inside. In one place they lived under a big fallen tree and had put some branches in front for 

 protection. Kemains after their quite small camp fires were very common. 



