CHAPTER XI 



THE LARGER EAST AFRICAN ANTELOPES (Continued) 



The greater kudu is one of the most coveted prizes for 

 the East African big-game hunter, not only because he 

 is such a magnificent looking animal, but also because he 

 is very hard to bag. The wide range of this beautiful 

 antelope, so common years ago all the way from Cape 

 Colony up through Central and Eastern Africa as far as 

 to the Abyssinian Highlands, has of late years been mate- 

 rially shortened. Mr. Selous told me that the animal has 

 now entirely disappeared from Cape Colony and is fast 

 becoming very rare in all the countries south of the Lim- 

 popo River. 



The kudu is fond of undulating and hilly country, but 

 is often seen on level ground along rivers and lakes, if he 

 only finds plenty of trees and dense bush to feed among. 

 This stately antelope may dispense with the hills, but he 

 will never be found on the plains or anywhere else where 

 there is not an abundance of cover, such as wooded and 

 bush country can afiford. In the latter part of the dry 

 season the kudu feeds chiefly on young and tender shoots 

 and twigs of trees and bushes, particularly before the 

 young grass has grown up after the regular grass fires 

 kindled by the natives. 



The kudu is not easily obtained, for he is nowhere very 

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