THE KLIPSPRINGER 



skin thoroughly salted if subsequently required for 

 mounting. If needed for the preparation of a 

 " flat " skin, then it should either be soaked in a 

 strong solution of alum for a few hours, or powdered 

 burnt alum rubbed into the fleshy side of the skin. 



It is hopeless endeavouring to chase Klipspringers 

 in this natural, rocky environment, but on level 

 ground they can easily be overtaken by dogs. In 

 captivity they become tame and docile, but do 

 not live long unless they are kept in an enclosure 

 containing a rocky hillock on which they can jump 

 and frolic. The unnatural way in which wild 

 animals are confined in many Zoological Gardens 

 is positively barbarous. I have seen the dauntless 

 little KHpspringer intended by Nature for a wild, 

 free life in some rocky fastness, confined in a small, 

 flat enclosure with no chance of working off its 

 superabundant energy and vitality. 



Klipspringers are still fairly common in the 

 district of Uitenhage and neighbouring districts, 

 and are carefully preserved by several progressive 

 citizens of Port Elizabeth who have country estates. 

 They are also abundant on Government lands. 



This antelope can easily be shot with a modern 

 rifle, as it presents an easy mark for a bullet when 

 posed immovable upon a pinnacle of rock with all 

 four feet gathered together. 



The call or cry is a thin whistle, somewhat like 

 that given out by a child's flute. 



Their principal enemies are the Leopard, Cerval 



47 



