96 THE SMALLER FAUNA OF MOUNT ELGON 
labelled ‘ Maturin and Brett — presented,’ and will be described 
with much technicality in the forthcoming number of the 
4 Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ 
Such are the items which help us to link up relationship 
with other zoo-geographical regions. In the case of this Potto 
we get a connexion with West Africa ; in other forms we find 
connexions with South Africa, Madagascar, Ruwenzori, Kenya, 
&c. At what period must the common origin of these two 
forms of Potto have existed, and where ? There is still an 
enormous work to be done among fossil and semi-fossil remains. 
Also on Elgon at 9000 feet I found an ear-shaped leathery 
fungus of the auricula group, which is closely related to a fungus 
known to New Zealand and to Madagascar. It grows princi- 
pally on decaying timber of certain sorts. Quantities of this 
fungus are exported from New Zealand to China, where it is 
used for soup or for edible purposes of some sort. 
Both bird and animal life were particularly abundant on 
the Elgon escarpment at 7000 feet, and the five or six weeks 
which I spent there, living in one of the large caves, was the 
most pleasant period of the trip. The cave I found a first- 
rate dwelling-place. There was plenty of room for skinning and 
drying specimens, there was plenty of light, the mouth being 
very wide and high. It was very dry and yet there was a good 
water-supply at one end, it was cool in the daytime and not 
too cold at night, and there was also plenty of room for the 
boys and cooking, and still enough left for a few hundred more. 
Firewood was also easily obtained there. Altogether I may 
safely say it was the most comfortable place I have ever lived 
in, the one great drawback was that, to get to the greater world 
beyond, it was necessary either to carefully descend some 
steeply sloping rocks or else to climb a break-neck cliff to the 
grassy slopes above. My few near neighbours, the Masai, who 
dwelt in adjacent caves, were perfectly honest, and the cave 
and contents could be left with boxes open and impedimenta 
lying about without fear of their being meddled with. The 
Masai never even touched the empty cartridge-cases which 
were dropped upon the paths. Long may they remain honest. 
Though they never helped me in the least, except to bring 
an occasional animal or bird, they never interfered with things. 
