-^ The Antelopes of East Africa 



ihem suddenly. The white stripes upon their bodies have 

 the effect of making them part and parcel of their environ- 

 ment, as is the case with zebras ; they produce the illusijn 

 of rays of the sun falling through twigs and branches. 1 he 

 extraordinarily large and sensitive ears ot these animals 

 enable them to become aware of the slightest suspicious 

 noise. There is something very dignified and imposing 



A IIKRD OF ELANDS 



in the demeanour of the bucks, especially when they raise 

 their heads for a moment at the hunter's apijroach 



Formerly the lesser kudu must have been as 

 numerous on the East Njiri swamps as in other parts 

 of Masai-Nyika. The Masai still call them sometimes 

 " ngare o'ssiram " (ngare-water), but their numbers were 

 unfortunately thinned by the rinderpest. My friend Mr. 

 Hobley found a great number of bodies ot lesser kudus 



473 



