Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/425

Rh

British South Africa Company have issued a volume of Reports on the Administration of Rhodesia, 1898-1900, which contains a wealth of information respecting the development of this large area. We can only refer to 'Notes on the Fauna of North-eastern Rhodesia,' written by Mr. C.P. Chesnaye, Secretary to the Administration of North-eastern Rhodesia, and confine ourselves to the report on the Mammalia.

The district lying to the west of the Loangwa and the swamps of Bangweolo and Mweru form a natural home for the larger Mammalia and Reptilia. The Elephant is still to be found in large herds in these districts, its haunts being protected from the hunter owing to the feeding-grounds for a greater part of the year being in almost inaccessible swamps. The formation of a game-reserve in the country lying east of the Mweru Lake, which has been effected by the Administration, will assist in a great measure to preserve these animals. South of the Tanganyika Plateau there are several Swahili traders who continually hunt the Elephant, and there is no doubt that in a few years the Elephants in that district will gradually retire into the reserve, where they can live and breed without fear of molestation. The Rhinoceros is found in several districts, but more or less localized in bushy country. Tiiey have been met with on the Loangwa and Chambezi Rivers, and are numerous in the waterless country between M'kupa's village and Kaulungombie on Lake Mweru. The horns of this animal, as an article of export, are not of much intrinsic value, but the hide is valuable cut into strips. The Hippopotamus inhabits all swamps and rivers, and is also found in the sheltered bays of Lake Tanganyika, where these animals are constantly seen in herds of from twenty to thirty. The export of Hippo hide appears to be increasing, as a good price can now be obtained for it in the South African market. As far as can be ascertained, it appears there is a solitary herd of Giraffe roaming about the Loangwa Valley, consisting of from twenty to thirty head. These interesting animals have been seen by traders, and are stated to resemble the Somaliland species rather than that found south of the Zambesi. Owing to the effects of the "Sokoto,"