CHAPTER IX 



ZAMBEZIAN ZOOLOGY 



The wide plains and forests bordering upon the 

 Zambezi River are still the permanent abiding 

 places of large quantities of wild animals, and those 

 families of great game beasts which have come most 

 to interest sportsmen are still to be found in great 

 numbers and of many varieties. 



The forests of Shupanga, especially those portions 

 which fall within the concession of the Luabo 

 Company, are particularly rich in many interesting 

 types ; and although it may be feared that for 

 several reasons they do not tend at present to 

 increase very greatly in numbers, many years must 

 of necessity elapse before these districts come to 

 share the shot-out condition of those farther to the 

 southward. 



It may be taken, I think, as a general principle 

 that the most acceptable districts to the best known 

 and most keenly sought game animals are those in 

 which forests and open plains alternate at low ele- 

 vation. As I have previously pointed out, almost 

 the whole of the country we are considering is 

 forested more or less ; but where the tree-covered 

 expanses lift themselves somewhat above the level 



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