122 A Breath from the Veldt 



are due either to the carelessness of old hunters whose familiarity with danger 

 has bred contempt, or to the rashness of young fellows who know nothing of 

 the habits of animals, and being tiros in the art of shooting, cannot tell how an 

 animal has been struck or the effect of a bullet in different parts of the body. 

 Only a sportsman of experience and gifted with quick observation can tell how 

 an animal has been hit, and the consequent degree of danger in approaching it 

 for the final coup de grace. 



The habits of the wart-hog are much like those of all the other wild pigs ; so 

 little need be said of them. Though no African writer of experience seems to 

 have mentioned the fact, I am inclined to believe that in the hot summer 

 months these pigs are to be found in the vicinity of big rivers in much larger 

 numbers than is generally supposed, forming at such times large wallowing 

 parties in some selected spot. By the Nuanetsi I noticed strong evidence of 

 very large numbers of them having worked along the banks and made 

 extensive mud wallows. According to the illustrations and statements in 

 various books, the animal, when extremely alarmed, carries his tail absolutely 

 erect ; but this, I think, is a mistake, the wisp of hair at the end of the tail 

 falling forward as shown in my sketch on page 131. I noticed this first in a 

 young sow on which we came suddenly one day. We were within twenty yards 

 of her, and I could see quite plainly how she erected and held her tail as she 

 galloped away at full speed. On another occasion, when Hert and I were 

 hunting together, we got within a few yards of a whole family party, 

 and were much amused to see them all going through the same per- 

 formance. 



Nearly every one has his own theory as to the way in which vultures 

 collect and descend on a carcase, and my own observation certainly tends to 

 support that of Mr. Rider Haggard, whose fascinating works on Africa betray 

 at every turn the observations of a man who is both a good sportsman and a 

 naturalist. From Allan ^atermain I subtract the following : — " Often have 

 I watched these great and repulsive birds, and marvelled at the extraordinary 

 speed with which they arrive on a scene of slaughter. A buck falls to your 

 rifle, and within a minute, high in the blue ether, appears a speck that gradually 

 grows into a vulture, then another, and another. I have heard many theories 

 advanced to account for the wonderful power of perception nature has given 

 these birds. My own, founded on a good deal of observation, is . that the 

 vultures, gifted as they are with powers of sight greater than those given by 

 the most powerful glass, quarter out the heavens among themselves, and 



