HUNTING — FISHING — WARS AND EXPEDITIONS. 19 



and as fleet as themselves. Thus it is among these 

 that we expect to find the art of hunting most 

 cultivated ; especially if we put aside the more 

 grossly carnivorous of them, whose whole organisa- 

 tion is adapted for rapid and effective results. 



Different methods of hunting. — Like Man, some 

 animals hunt in ambush or by coursing ; others know 

 how to overturn the desired victim by throwing some 

 object at it. These profit by all the exterior circum- 

 stances which are capable of frightening the game, of 

 stunning it, and of rendering capture easy. But it is 

 by studying each separate feature that we shall best 

 be able to observe the close way in which these 

 industries are related to our own. It is impossible to 

 bring forward all the facts relating to the search for 

 prey among animals ; we can only take a few as sign- 

 posts which mark the road. 



Hunting in ambush. — The most rudimentary 

 method of hunting in ambush is simply to take 

 advantage of some favourable external circumstance 

 to obtain concealment, and then to await the 

 approach of the prey. Some animals place them- 

 selves behind a tuft of grass, others thrust themselves 

 into a thicket, or hang on to the branch of a tree in 

 , order to fall suddenly on the victim who innocently 

 approaches the perfidious ambush. The Crocodile, as 

 described by Sir Samuel Baker, conceals himself by 

 his skill in plunging noiseelssly. On the bank a 

 group of birds have alighted. They search the 

 mud for insects or worms, or simply to approach the 

 strea;n to drink or bathe. In spite of his great size 

 and robust appetite the Crocodile does not disdain 

 this slight dish ; but the least noise, the least wrinkle 

 on the surface of the water would cause the future 



