472 
AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 
scent and leopards only occasionally kill an eland calf, the lion 
is the only foe that need be considered. On the rare occasions 
when lions hunt by day they do sometimes use their eyes. 
Governor Jackson has described a party of lions hunting 
eland by sight. But, unless wounded, the eland, though far 
less conspicuous in color than zebra, hartebeest, or wilde¬ 
beest, and even than oryx or roan, makes no more effort to 
hide than any one of these, its constant companions. It 
never crouches or slinks, or seeks to take advantage of cover 
like a bushbuck or oribi. A herd rests like cattle, lying down 
or standing; and always there is some little play of ears or 
tail, sufficient to insure the attention of any beast of prey 
which is on the lookout in the neighborhood. Moreover, the 
elands lie down or stand resting during the heat of the day, 
when no beast of prey is abroad. In the morning and after¬ 
noon they are feeding; they then make no effort to hide, and 
are sure to be seen by any watchful foe which is trusting to 
its eyes for success. Ordinarily lion trust far more to nose 
than eyes, until close up, when the shade or markings of the 
coat becomes utterly unimportant. At night, especially on 
the very dark nights when the lion is boldest, probably his 
sense of smell is his only guide until he makes his final rush; 
and, in any event, on such a night all colors seem alike. 
Therefore, although the eland’s coloring, like that of the wild 
ass or male Grant gazelle, is probably more concealing than 
that of any of the other antelopes or of the zebras, it has no 
effect whatever on the animal’s habits, and probably in actual 
practice is of no consequence to it, one way or the other, as 
regards its foes. At any rate, the coloration is not a factor 
of survival value. The stripes, which closet theorists have 
treated as of concealing value in the eland, are of no con- 
