3°6 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
most numerous and widely distributed. I have met 
him nearly everywhere throughout the Highlands, but 
only once in exceptionally large numbers, that being 
on the Yatta plains in 1911. 
Wildfowl are rich in variety in the Protectorate, but 
unfortunately they cannot be seriously regarded from a 
sporting point of view. 
Seven or eight years ago the duck shooting in Lake 
Naivasha was quite good ; Sir Donald Stewart, Mr. 
R. J. Stordy, and two more guns on one occasion 
certainly killed more than 150. Year by year since then 
the number of ducks on the lake has decreased and 
their shyness has increased, till now it is a lucky 
gunner who gets more than half a dozen. The other 
large lakes, the rivers, and especially the small reed- 
locked pieces of water, all contain duck, and generally 
a goose or two ; but I know nowhere where by flight¬ 
ing or any other method a large bag can be obtained. 
During the last six or seven years the rainfall 
throughout the Protectorate has probably been a 
good deal below normal, and certainly not only have 
the greater lakes sunk considerably but many smaller 
pieces of water have dried up altogether. This 
circumstance very likely to a great extent accounts for 
the diminution of wildfowl, a diminution which, it may 
be hoped, is only temporary. 
For all species of bird-shooting a dog is generally 
essential and always desirable. He may be either a 
pointer, retriever, or spaniel. Unless bred in the 
country, the last two feel the heat a good deal, but 
those born in the Protectorate seem pretty well inured. 
Mr. Archer, District Commissioner of the desert 
country round Marsabit, breeds a race of liver and 
white spaniels which are indefatigable on the hottest 
