82 THE GAME OF THE NORTH KAVIRONDO 
This curiosity appears to be a well-marked trait ; if an animal 
which is known to inhabit a pool is not visible, a succession of 
whistles will usually make it 4 show up.’ This fact may he 
tested any day in the Nzoia, in undisturbed places. On the 
other hand, where the hippo has been fired at, or molested in any 
way, the beast will show marvellous ingenuity in concealing 
itself from dawn till about 5.80 p.m. Breathing is performed 
under cover of an overhanging branch, an overlapping shelf 
of bank, or in the cover of the reeds ; and were it not for the 
occasional slight sound of an expiration, the observer would 
state that the pool was entirely uninhabited by animal life. 
The native name (Iffufo) is imitative of this sound. In the 
lake and at the mouths of the rivers, hippopotami are very 
numerous, living in large schools. 
The Elephant occurs in the Elgon forests to the east of the 
mountain, and they migrate to and from the country north of the 
Uasin Gishu. Formerly they had a much greater range of 
country. A single elephant is resident in Ngonga’s country 
near the Sarnia Hills. He has been seen by Europeans, and 
is stated to be the survivor of three who crossed the 
lake at the mouth of the Kavirondo gulf. This is, of course, 
a straggler. 
Buffalo ( Bos caffer) occur on the lower slopes of Elgon. 
As rinderpest has broken out in villages in the vicinity of which 
they graze, a mortality among these animals may be expected. 
Hartebeest (Bubalis Jacksonii) occur over the whole of 
Division No. 8, in herds of five or six. North of and near the 
Nzoia they are common in this division. Their colouring 
appears to be of a deeper red and they appear to show more 
black on the skin at the fetlock than specimens in the Rift 
Valley and Mau slopes. 
Waterbuck (Kobus defassa ) are fairly common in the same 
neighbourhood. Some of the males carry very large horns. 
They appear to be very tame. 
Thomas' Kob ( Kobus Thomasi) occur in the same division 
from near the Kakamega forest to the foot of Elgon, usually 
in herds of ten or twelve does and a buck. Solitary 
bucks are often encountered. In the parts stated above, it 
is common. 
