204 



SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



more gregarious in habits than the Hoan, being found in 

 herds of varying number up to forty or fifty individuals. 

 Old bulls are usually found alone, and young bulls in 

 small troops. The calves are born in late summer, and 

 Major Hamilton gives the period of gestation at 270 days, 

 which I am not able to verify, except that in captivity 



. % J 



-w* 



l^ 



Fig. 115. — Dead Sable Antelope Bull. 



only one young one is born annually. They give vent to 

 a snort when alarmed or angered. 



The Sable is a dangerous animal when wounded. A 

 male in the National Zoological Gardens, though tame 

 enough when unmolested, became very fierce when 

 meddled with. It breeds well in captivity, one young 

 one being produced at a birth. 



