36 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



* Hunter's Wanderings in Africa,' which was a narrative of nine 

 years spent amongst the game of the far interior of South Africa. 

 In the opinion of naturalists, explorers, and sportsmen, it was the 

 best modern book of its kind, and the praise which we then 

 bestowed upon it was speedily justified by the book going out of 

 print, and a second edition being called for. In the long interval 

 which has elapsed Mr. Selous has been again "wandering" in his 

 happy hunting grounds, and the volume now before us contains 

 the narrative of his further adventures during his eleven years of 

 absence. 



It is indeed a stirring narrative, and one calculated to excite 

 the admiration and envy of sportsmen and naturalists. We place 

 the sportsman first on this occasion, because it is as a hunter of 

 " big-game " that Mr. Selous conspicuously excels. Few have had 

 longer experience or better opportunities for observing the wild 

 animals of South Africa in their natural haunts, and none, we 

 should imagine, have been more successful in chasing and slaying 

 them. 



As a mere record of sport his book is instructive, setting 

 clearly before the reader the qualifications necessary to constitute 

 a hunter. One of the first essentials is a knowledge of the 

 country, and this is only to be gained by experience such as Mr. 

 Selous has acquired in years of travel. Then an insight into 

 native character is important to enable one to set a proper value 

 on replies given to questions, and to escape attempted imposition. 

 A knowledge of " tracking" is almost indispensable, not only for 

 the purpose of following hunted game, but to enable one to find 

 one's way back to camp after a long and perhaps intricate chase 

 in a new and difficult country. This may often be rendered un- 

 necessary by the services of native hunters, to whom one may 

 turn for assistance ; but it is as well not to rely too much upon 

 attendants, in case of accident, or separation from the party, 

 when one's own safety may depend upon a little self-reliance, and 

 the exercise of independent judgment. Resolution and nerve, it 

 goes without saying, are all-important in such undertakings, as 

 well as fertility of resource and promptness of action in an 

 emergency. Expertness in the saddle and with the rifle are 

 qualifications without which but little success can be hoped for 

 or expected, and some knowledge of the habits of the animals 

 hunted is almost a sine qua non, although this may be acquired 



