490 THE SOUTH-EAST FACE OF MOUNT KENYA 
10,000 feet. Above this there is a range of beautiful park- 
like country of coarse grass and heather, with occasional 
clumps of fine, wide-spreading trees : above 10,000 feet they 
become rare, and they almost disappear before 11,000 feet 
have been reached. This part of the mountain is at most 
times of the year more or less of a swamp ; for at least nine 
months out of the twelve, it is covered with mist varied by 
heavy rain. The only seasons when finer w T eather can be 
reckoned on with any certainty are February and early March, 
while September is also usually fairly fine. The ascent at 
any other time of year would be accompanied by extreme 
discomfort ; while any useful observations would be almost 
impossible, owing to the mist and rain. 
The animals found on the lower slopes are those common 
to the whole of the province of Kenya. In the forest the 
usual animals are found, the most notable being the elephant 
and the buffalo ; traces of these exist up to 10,000 feet ; and 
at 9000 feet my expedition was somewhat disturbed by the 
sound of herds of buffalo among the bamboos, though, since 
these herds have hardly been molested, they are not naturally 
savage. Traces of animal life mostly disappear before 11,000 
feet are reached ; above that point, I could find indications 
of nothing except a small rat-like creature, living apparently in 
a deep burrow, and one or two birds of the hawk type. I also 
noticed a small, shy bird somewhat resembling a canary, but 
with black patches, which was to be seen as high as 12,000 
feet. Insects were numerous and varied up to 10,000 feet, 
and above this point beetles of all kinds were common, but 
the flying-insects began to disappear. 
■While travelling through the forest, we were greatly troubled 
by dense swarms of Hcemato'poda Alluaudi ; these, however, 
disappear at about 9000 feet. At 11,000 feet the small variety, 
distincta, made its appearance, and was to be found occasionally 
even as high as 13,000 feet ; this was curious, since there 
could be practically no food for the insect at such a height, 
while the temperature varies between heavy frosts at night 
and tropical sun at midday. I found no traces of mosquitoes 
above 10,000 feet. My collections of insects and plants are 
now in the Natural History Museum. 
