500 
APPENDIX D 
the snow-line for a mile without seeing any traces of large animals, 
although leopards and smaller cats sometimes wander to this 
height. The groove-toothed rat ( Otomys ) was numerous in the grass 
bordering the glacial lakes at a height of 15,000 feet: so were the 
big mountain hyrax ; and Mearns shot one of these animals at 
15,500 feet, by a snow-bank; it was the highest point at which 
any mammal was collected. Various kinds of rats and shrews 
were numerous about the 13,700-foot camp. Above 12,000 feet 
only three small birds were seen : a long-tailed sunbird, a stone- 
chat, and a fantail warbler. 
On the entire Mount Kenia trip 1,112 birds, of 210 species, were 
collected ; 1,320 mammals and 771 reptiles and batrachians were 
collected, but the species represented were much fewer. Mearns 
also made an excellent collection of plants and a good collection of 
invertebrates. Fresh-water crabs were numerous in the streams up 
to 10,000 feet, frogs went as high as 10,700, a chameleon was 
taken at 11,000, and a lizard at 12,100. 
Loring ascended the mountain to the base of the pinnacle, at 
about 16,500 feet. He started from the highest camp, where the 
water froze each night. The ascent was easy, and he carried his 
camera ; but the glare of the snow gave him snow-blindness. 
