ROOSEVELT HUNTS ANIMALS OF DARK CONTINENT 413 
what were these few species to the immense variety of African game 
animals, and what their numbers to the endless swarms of antelopes 
and various other strange creatures to be found on the East African 
hunting grounds, where the American hunters now found themselves ? 
Hardly a day did they go abroad without astonishment at the 
multitude of life surrounding them. The great herbivora—the ele¬ 
phant, rhinoceros and hippopotamus—were comparatively rare, while 
the skulking, night-hunting lion and leopard were rarely in evidence 
except when specially sought; but the very many and often very beau¬ 
tiful species of antelopes, the swift zebra and lofty giraffe were rarely 
wanting, some species of them haunting the plains in extraordinary 
multitudes. Mr. Roosevelt gives abundant testimony to the vast num¬ 
bers of these animals. While one day in ambush near Heatly’s ranch 
he saw swarming herds, each of them hundreds in number, of zebras 
and hartebeests sweeping past his covert. These came on at an easy 
lope, the hartebeest (known also as the red kangoni and as the caama) 
running with their mouths open. This odd custom was usual with 
them, but the zebras opened their mouths only to neigh. 
He could have brought down dozens of these animals if his pur¬ 
pose had been merely to make a score of useless murders, but as he 
already had the specimens of these species that he needed and as the 
camp was fully supplied with meat, he let them pass unharmed. A true 
sportsman, he was very little given to shoot for the mere purpose of 
killing, and preferred to keep his bullets for the kind of game that was 
a peril to the country, the death of which might save human life. 
Thus when a fine ostrich passed him within easy rifle range he 
forbore to shoot, on the mental plea that ostrich farming was becom¬ 
ing an industry of that region. On the day in question the chief game 
got by him consisted of wart-hogs, which were plentiful, feeding on 
the open plain. After several failures, he succeeded in bringing down 
a good-sized boar, while Kermit got a sow with unusually long tusks. 
This he chased on horseback for about two miles and shot from the 
saddle as he galloped past, pulling trigger without bringing the piece 
to his shoulder. 
In regard to the other species of animals seen by Colonel Roose¬ 
velt in his hunting excursion, we must speak again of the great variety 
