804 
GAME AND DISEASE 
twelve animals, which during the height of the outbreak 
died in one night, all vanished but a few broken bones within 
a few hours of daylight. 
The instinct of a sick (or wounded) animal is to leave 
the herd and seek solitude ; it is therefore deprived of all assis- 
tance in the way of warning, and, in some cases, of protection. 
The case goes even farther, for it is the instinct of the herd 
to drive out the sick beast. 
Such an animal — alone, sick, and dull — naturally falls an 
easier prey to the carnivora ; for not only are the real killers 
— such as lion and leopard — a danger, but the scavengers — such 
as hyaenas, jackal, and the like — will readily pull down a sick 
animal. 
For instance, in the case of wounded animals, one knows 
the large numbers that are hit and get away ; yet how seldom 
a wounded beast can be found the next day ! 
Often when having wounded an animal, knowing that if 
it is followed up at once it will go for miles, I have sat down 
to give it time to stiffen or to die. Then while waiting, I have 
either seen with my glasses a jackal pick up the blood-spoor 
and follow it up, or else found the jackal near the animal when 
it was reached. Should, however, that animal get away and 
live till nightfall, then every hyaena, jackal, hunting-dog — to 
say nothing of lions — crossing the blood, will at once follow 
up ; and though jackal and hyaena will seldom chase or attack 
a hale animal, they will not hesitate to pull down a wounded 
one, or even a sick one. In a real game reserve the sick 
animals are killed before they have time to die, for there is 
little doubt that the scent left by a sick beast would be at once 
recognised by such animals as live on the dead and dying. 
Vultures are possibly the quickest to spot the sick animal, 
and alight near to wait for its death, thus acting as guides to 
the four-footed scavengers, who all make for the spot where 
they see the vultures dropping. Taking this into considera- 
tion, it can be easily seen that the only occasions on which 
disease in game is recognised is when an epidemic breaks out. 
The gathering of the scavengers — * those who come for the 
broken meat ’ — is a most wonderful sight. 
If an animal dies in the open, it is only a case of minutes 
