nd stop in a state of
bewilderment. I have seen them attempt to follow each other and appear
quite confused, no one knowing for half a minute or more where to direct
the flight. On one occasion I happened to shoot the leader, a young
zebra mare, which at some former time had been bitten on the hind leg
by a carnivorous animal, and, thereby made unusually wary, had, in
consequence, become a leader. If they see either one of their own herd
or any other animal taking to flight, wild animals invariably flee.
The most timid thus naturally leads the rest. It is not any other
peculiarity, but simply this provision, which is given them for the
preservation of the race. The great increase of wariness which is
seen to occur when the females bring forth their young, causes all the
leaders to be at that time females; and there is a probability that the
separation of sexes into distinct herds, which is annually observed in
many antelopes, arises from the simple fact that the greater caution of
the she antelopes is partaken of only by the young males, and their more
frequent flights now have the effect of leaving the old males behind.
I am inclined to believe this, because, though the antelopes, as the
pallahs, etc., are frequently in separate herds, they are never seen in
the act of expelling the males. There may be some other reason in the
case of the elephants; but the male and female elephants are never seen
in one herd. The young males remain with their dams only until they are
full grown; and so constantly is the separation maintained, that any
one familiar with them, on seeing a picture with the sexes mixed, would
immediately conclude that the artist had made it from his imagination,
and not from sight.

DECEMBER 2, 1855. We remained near a small hill, called Maundo, where we
began to be frequently invited by the honey-guide ('Cuculus indicator').
Wishing to ascertain the truth of the native assertion that this bird is
a deceiver, and by its call sometimes leads to a wild beast and not to
honey, I inquired if any of my men had ever been led by this friendly
little bird to any thing else than what its name implies. Only one of
the 114 could say he had been led to an elephant instead of a hive, like
myself with the black rhinoceros mentioned before. I am quite convinced
that the majority of people who commit themselves to its guidance are
led to honey, and to it alone.

On the 3d we crossed the River Mozuma, or River of Dila, h