236 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



to ten individuals; but towards the end of the dry season they collect into large herds, 

 and at such times I have often seen from fifty to over two hundred of these animals in 

 one troop. 



In my experience elands live for two-thirds of the year in forest or bush-covered country, 

 or amongst rugged hills; and in such localities they are difficult to overtake on horseback; 

 but in the middle of the dry season, as soon as they smell the smoke of the grass fires lighted 

 by the natives on the open plateaux, they leave their retreats, and, collecting in herds, wander 

 out on to the treeless plains in search of young grass. They then fall an easy prey to a 

 mounted hunter, especially the heavy old bulls, which can be run to a standstill with ease by 

 a very moderate horse. 



The flesh of the eland is excellent when the animal is in good condition, as at such a 

 time these animals become very fat, especially the old bulls, whose hearts become encased in 

 a mass of fat which will often weigh 20 lbs. It is a mistake, however, to think that 

 eland-meat is always good; for towards the end of the dry season, when there is little grass 

 to be got, they feed extensively on the leaves of certain bushes, and their meat at such times 

 becomes very poor and tasteless. 



Besides the common eland of Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa, another distinct 

 species is met with in Senegal and the Gambia Colony. This is the DERBIAN ELAND, about 

 which animal our knowledge is still very slight, as I believe that it has never yet been shot 

 nor its habits studied by a European traveler. A good many skulls and horns and a few skins 

 have been obtained from natives, from which it appears that in general colour this species is 

 of a rich reddish-fawn colour, becoming nearly white below, the middle of the belly being, 

 black. The neck is covered with long hair of a dark brown or black colour, blacker towards 

 the shoulder than in front. A broad black stripe extends all down the centre of the back 

 from the neck to the root of the tail, and there are large black patches on the backs and 



inner sides of the 

 fore legs above the 

 knees. On each 

 side of the body 

 a n d haunches 

 there are thirteen 

 or fourteen narrow 

 white stripes. The 

 horns are larger 

 and more massive 

 and divergent than 

 in the common 

 viand. 



The Derbian 

 eland is said to be 

 a forest - losing 

 animal, never of its 

 own accord coming 

 out into the plains. 

 It lives in small 

 herds, is very shy 

 and not at all 

 ab u n d an t, a nd 

 browses on the 

 leaves and young 

 ~li- >• >is of various 

 trees and bushes. 



Pholt hf If . P. Danjo] 



BULL ELAND 



The flesh of the eland is of better flavour than that cf most other large game. If sheltered in -winter, the 



species will thrive in English parks 



