LEADERS OF HERDS. 
848 
food is partaken of, for wo observed flocks of them roosting 
on tho reeds in spots whore neither tamo nor wild animals 
were to bo found. 
The most wary animal in a herd is generally tho “ loader.” 
When it is shot, tho others often seom at a loss what to do 
and stop in a state of bewilderment. I have soon them 
then attompt to follow each other, and appear quito con- 
fused, no ono knowing for half a minuto or moro whore to 
direct tho flight. On one occasion I happonod to shoot the 
loader, a young zebra marc, which at some former time 
had boon bitten on tho hind-log by a carnivorous animal, 
and, thereby mado unusually wary, had, in consequence, 
boeome a loader. If they sco either ono of their own herd 
or any other animal taking to flight, wild animals invariably 
fleo. Tho most timid thus naturally loads tho rest. It is 
not any other peculiarity, but simply this provision, which 
is given them for the preservation of tho raco. The great 
increase of wariness which is scon to occur when the females 
bring forth their young, causes all tho loaders to bo at that 
timo females; and there is a probability that the separa- 
tion of sexes into distinct herds, which is annually observod 
in many antolopes, arising from tho simple fact that the 
greator caution of tho she antolopes is partaken of only by 
tho young males, and their more froquont flights now havo 
tho effoct of leaving tho old males behind. I am inclined 
to believe this, bocauso they are never soen in the act ot 
oxpolling tho males. 
December 2, 1855. — We remained noar a small hill, called 
Maundo, whore wo began to bo frequently invited by tho 
honey-guide, ( Cuculus indicator.') Wishing to ascertain tho 
truth of tho native assertion that this bird is a doceiver, 
and by its call sometimes loads to a wild boast and not to 
honey, I inquired if any of my men had over boon led by 
this friendly little bird to any thing else than what its 
name implies. Only ono of tho ono hundrod and fourtoon 
could say bo had been lod to an elophant instead of a hive 
L am quite convinced that tho majority of people who 
