256 AFRICAN NATURE NOTES chap. 



portions of its range, and it is quite possible that 

 in the recesses of the Kalahari it may at certain 

 seasons of the year collect into larger droves than 

 anything that I have ever seen. 



Compared with other South African game, I 

 have shot but few gemsbuck — only twenty-five, I 

 find by reference to my note-books — partly because 

 I have done the greater part of my hunting in the 

 more easterly parts of the country where these 

 animals are unknown, but also for the reason that 

 even when in countries where they existed I never 

 found them anything but scarce. 



-The gemsbuck, as I have said before, is an in- 

 habitant of Western South Africa, and lives and 

 thrives in parts of the country where not only are 

 there no running streams, but where for months 

 together every year there is absolutely no surface 

 water at all. In such districts there are almost 

 limitless expanses of level plains covered with low 

 scrub and thorny bush studded with small glittering 

 white salt-pans, and intersected by forest -covered 

 country, with sometimes a thick undergrowth 

 amongst the trees, and it is in such surroundings 

 that the gemsbuck is at home. 



As a rule, they confine themselves to the arid, 

 scrub-covered plains, but sometimes wander into 

 the forests. If the sun is not shining full upon 

 them — when they look almost white — the pale grey 

 colour of their coats harmonises wonderfully well 

 with all their surroundings, for the soil on which 

 they stand is generally much the colour of their 

 hides, whilst the parched and thorny scrub around 

 them is always of a pale neutral tint, for it is usually 

 leafless, and even when in leaf the leaves are rather 

 grey than green. 



Like the striping of the zebra, the brilliant black 

 and white markings of the gemsbuck's face can be 

 plainly seen when near at hand, but are incon- 



