94 THE MAMMALS OF SOMALILAND 



remainder of the twenty-four hours grazing either in the valleys 

 or grassy plateaux in the neighbourhood. Each herd keeps to 

 its own particular haunts, seldom straying very far. 



During the last few years, owing to their being carefully 

 preserved, they appear to be slowly increasing in numbers. 

 Swayne mentions a case of an unwounded bull Greater Kudu 

 making, at some thirty yards' distance, a determined charge at 

 a man whom he had sent to guard the mouth of a gorge. Whether 

 this charge was really directed at the man or not it is difficult 

 to say, but I fancy the mouth of the gorge must really have 

 been the way he intended to escape. The ears of the Greater 

 Kudu are large and he requires very careful stalking, as long 

 before he sees you he hears you and makes off. 



I once saw a herd of seven which had not seen me but 

 apparently had heard my approach, as they exhibited great 

 uneasiness and could not make up their minds which way to 

 escape ; so I sat down and watched them, when, after walking 

 round and round each other for a few seconds, they made 

 off in the opposite direction. The Greater Kudu, living as he 

 does almost entirely among the hills and seldom, if ever, leaving 

 them, never trespasses on the preserves of the Lesser Kudu, 

 which never takes to the hills but is invariably found in thick 

 bush country where there is plenty of shade for it to lie up in 

 during the heat of the day. 



