NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



stench drove the Trek-Boers, who were camped 

 near the coast, far inland." This remarkable 

 incident occurred in Namaqualand. 



The name Springbok arose from the habit of 

 these bucks when startled or at play, leaping high 

 into the air with body curved, legs held stiff 

 and close together, and head down ; at the same 

 time the line of long white hair on the rump is 

 displayed like a fan by the action of certain skin 

 muscles. 



It is a most interesting and pleasing sight to see 

 this sudden and momentary blaze of white flash 

 out upon the veld when a herd of Springboks are 

 disporting themselves or preparing to retreat. 

 Their pace is great, exceeding that of a good horse, 

 but they are no match in speed to a Blesbok or 

 Greyhound. 



When startled, a herd of Springboks, after a few 

 preliminary " pronken," as the Boers call these leaping 

 displays, make off full speed up-wind. They are 

 very suspicious of roads or wagon tracks across the 

 veld, and clear them at a bound, springing lo to 

 20 feet with the greatest ease. 



The South African veld is known as the Karoo- 

 veld, and the grass-veld. The former is covered with 

 low stunted bushes chiefly belonging to the orders 

 Composites and Portulacaccce, and the latter is 

 clothed entirely with grass. 



In the Cape Province we find the Karoo-veld, 

 and further north and east the grass-veld prevails. 



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