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Show 218 REMARKS ON THE FAUNA OF KILIMA-NJARO. [Mar. 3, Among the most noticeable Ruminants are the Buffalo (Bubalus caffer, to judge by its horns), the Giraffe (very abundant), the Eland, the Kudu, the Bush-buck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), the Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger), the Pallah, one or two Gazelles, Gnus, Hartebeests, Blessboks, and many small species of Neotragus and Cephalophus. The Kudu penetrates up the mountain to a height of 14,000 feet, in company with the Buffalo, attracted possibly by the sweet perennial pasture. A Neotragus and Cephalophus are also found at high altitudes. I have nowhere seen the Lesser Kudu, although a letter, which I have received this morning from a friend w h o has been shooting on the river Tana, a little to the north of Kilima-njaro, shows it to be abundant there. Wart-hogs are common, and penetrate to a height of 8000 feet up the mountain. I will not trouble you with much respecting the birds of Kilimanjaro, as I have contributed some notes to Capt. Shelley's able paper, written on the skins in m y collection. I would, however, remark on the great abundance of the Ostrich in the district round Kilima-njaro. Curiously enough, it would seem, I know not why, that this Ostrich never produces fine plumes. The Arab traders find them worthless, at any rate, in the Zanzibar and Aden markets, while the feathers from Somali-land fetch good prices. During my residence at Taveita I kept many young Ostriches alive, and brought several to the coast; but they all died during the journey. In the large rivers at the base of Kilima-njaro and in Lake Jipe Crocodiles are found. Large Lizards inhabit the forests. Smaller Lizards and Chameleons are very abundant. I have met with Chameleons up to a height of 13,000 feet; and have also found a Frog at the same altitude. I forgot to mention that at this height, in an ice-cold stream, I captured the young of a Duck-of what species I do not know, as they were in the down. Fish are nowhere found in the rivers of Kilima-njaro, save in the river Lumi, which flows into Jipe. I have here to-night a drawing of the only kind seen. In Jipe I have caught a Silurus, apparently the same as the " Bagre" of the west coast. Freshwater Crabs are common in the mountain-streams. Throughout this region Butterflies were few and scarce, except at Taveita. Few kinds penetrated higher than 8000 or 9000 feet. Bees and Wasps were found up to 14,000 feet. In summarizing this very hasty review of the fauna of Kilimanjaro, I might remark that the animals were much more abundant in the plains than on the higher ground; and that the further we ascended towards the snowy summits, the scarcer were the signs of animated life. |