NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



upon its flcetness and ability to outdistance any 

 horse, frequently pauses in its flight to gaze at its 

 pursuer. In consequence it often falls a victim 

 to the hunter armed with a long-range modern rifle. 

 Although the speed of the Hartebeest when at 

 full stride is very great, yet it has not the appearance 

 of being such to the observer, and in consequence 

 inexperienced sportsmen often exhaust their horses 

 in a vain endeavour to overtake it. 



In the past the principal natural enemies of the 

 Cape Hartebeest, which kept its species in check, 

 were the large carnivorous animals such as the Lion, 

 Chita and Cape Hunting Dog. Lions sprang out 

 upon it from places of concealment ; the Chita 

 cleverly stalked it ; and the Cape Hunting Dogs 

 pursued it in troops and ran it down, owing to their 

 superiority in endurance, and the clever tactics 

 which they often employed. 



On the advent of the breeding season, the rival 

 male's fight in the most determined manner with 

 one another, which results in the less physically fit 

 individuals being driven off and prevented from 

 breeding. 



The Cape Hartebeest, in common with most 

 of the other larger South African antelopes, suffers 

 from Bot-flies. These flies deposit their eggs in 

 the nasal and ear passages of the animal, and the 

 larvae or grubs which hatch from these eggs, feed 

 upon the mucus exuded as a result of the irritation 

 of the tissues set up by their presence. The 



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