THE ELAND 



of food they get into excellent condition. At 

 this time they are scattered over the country singly 

 or in small groups of from a couple to five or six. 



Usually about June the natives begin burning 

 the grass on the high plateaus, and when the young 

 grass shoots up, the Elands leave the shelter of the 

 bush-covered hills and wander off over the rolling 

 veld to graze on it. At these times they fall an 

 easy prey to the hunter, for they are poor runners, 

 and can be run down easily by a well-mounted man. 

 Occasionally a lean Eland is able to out-distance the 

 average colonial horse. 



The old bulls often grow so fat that they can 

 sometimes be actually run down by a man on foot. 

 When disturbed the Elands start off at a rapid trot 

 in single file, and do not break into a gallop until 

 hard pressed. The younger animals take the lead, 

 and the herd bulls the rear. They always run 

 up-wind. 



When the grass is young and tender the Elands 

 feed almost entirely on it ; but at other times their 

 food consists of the tops of young reeds and the 

 leaves of trees and shrubs, supplemented by wild 

 fruits, bulbs and melons. 



Although able to subsist without water for long 

 periods, as is the case in the Kalahari and other 

 waterless districts, the Eland drinks regularly during 

 the night and at daybreak when water is available. 

 They feed principally during the daytime, sheltering 

 themselves in the shade of trees when the sun's 



137 



