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ch. viii] COLOURING OF GAME 
Topi, hartebeest, wildebeest, and gazelle gazed at us as 
we rode by, the sunlight throwing their shapes and 
colours into bold relief against the parched brown grass. 
I had an hour to myself after reaching camp, and spent 
it with Lowell’s “ Essays.” I doubt whether any man 
takes keener enjoyment in the wilderness than he who 
also keenly enjoys many other sides of life ; just as no 
man can relish books more than some at least of those 
who also love horse and rifle and the winds that blow 
across lonely plains and through the gorges of the 
mountains. 
Next morning a lion roared at dawn so near camp 
that we sallied forth after him. We did not find him, 
but we enjoyed our three hours’ ride through the fresh 
air before breakfast, with game, as usual, on every hand. 
Some of the animals showed tameness, some wild¬ 
ness, the difference being not between species and 
species, but between given individuals of almost every 
species. While we were absent two rhinos passed close 
by camp, and stopped to stare curiously at it ; we saw 
them later as they trotted away, but their horns were 
not good enough to tempt us. 
At a distance the sunlight plays pranks with the 
colouring of the animals. Cock ostriches always show 
jet black, and are visible at a greater distance than any 
of the common game; the neutral tint of the hens 
making them far less conspicuous. Both cocks and 
hens are very wary, sharp-sighted, and hard to approach. 
Next to the cock ostrich in conspicuousness comes the 
wildebeest, because it shows black in most lights; yet 
when headed away from the onlooker, the sun will often 
make the backs of a herd look whitish in the distance. 
Wildebeest are warier than most other game. Round 
this camp the topi were as tame as the hartebeest; they 
