THE MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK 



rocking-horse-like gallop, like their cousins, the 

 Reedbucks of the vleys. When running their 

 stumpy bushy tails are thrown up, showing the 

 underlying white. 



The young are born between the months of 

 October and December. 



The Rooi Rhebok is usually seen on the move 

 during the early hours of the morning, and seeks a 

 shady spot to lie down when the suns rays grow hot. 

 After nightfall they descend the hills, feeding 

 leisurely down to water, where they remain, unless 

 alarmed, until shortly before dawn. It is at these 

 times they often fall a prey to the Leopard and Lion. 

 They descend from their fastnesses nightly for the 

 double purpose of slaking their thirst and feeding 

 upon the grass, which is fresher, crisper and greener 

 than on the stony mountain slopes. 



On observing a hunter in the distance, the 

 mountain Reedbuck, instead of making off, slinks 

 silently down behind a boulder or bush, hoping to 

 escape observation. When disturbed they either 

 run obliquely downhill or round the mountain ; 

 seldom climbing to the top, as is the habit of the 

 true or Vaal Rhebok. 



They are not remarkable for tenacity of life, and 

 in this respect differ from the majority of the 

 African antelopes. 



The names Mountain Reedbuck and Rooi Rhebok 

 are both rather inapplicable. Although one of the 

 Reedbuck family, and like the others more or less 



VOL. Ill 8i 6 



