THE WATERBUCK 



about three dozen individuals, usually consisting of 

 a fully adult bull and a number of females and 

 immature animals of both sexes. Small troops of 

 young males consisting of four to half-a-dozen 

 individuals may often be seen together, and occa- 

 sionally a solitary old bull is observed. Sometimes 

 two herds may be seen feeding together on the 

 succulent vegetation along the banks of streams. 



Major J. Stevenson-Hamilton says that along the 

 Ngwanitzi River in the Transvaal Game Reserve 

 these antelopes are so numerous that troops of them 

 are hardly ever out of sight of the traveller. 



Notw^ithstanding its rather heavy build and com- 

 paratively short legs, the Waterbuck is exceedingly 

 active on broken ground, and climbs the steep and 

 rough hillsides with ease and considerable speed. 



When pursued the Waterbuck often, but by 

 no means always, makes for the nearest river or 

 marsh into which it readily plunges, for it is a 

 most excellent swimmer. When it takes to the 

 reedy marshes, it leaps through the shallow water in 

 great bounds and is soon lost to sight. 



When wounded and very hard pressed this antelope 

 often enters thewater, and, immersing its body,stands 

 at bay with head and neck raised above the surface 

 to give battle to any dogs which might be bold 

 enough to attack it. Standing thus, it can deliver 

 the most formidable and effective strokes with its 

 horns, and often succeeds in keeping an entire pack 

 of dogs at bay. 



67 



