222 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



however, scarcely fairly represent the beast in its 

 wild state, and grow to nothing like the size and bulk. 

 The late Mr. Bartlett informed me also that the breed 

 shows in captivity a tendency to deterioration, and 

 occasionally requires fresh blood. Many of these 

 beautiful antelopes have been imported and bred as 

 ornaments to noblemen's parks. A former Lord 

 Derby bred them for some years — the present stock 

 at the Zoological Gardens represents, I believe, his 

 herd. Lord Hill also had some ; and there are still 

 a few here and there in parks about the country. A 

 butcher in Shrewsbury once had the carcase of an 

 eland of Lord Hill's for sale, but found it an impossi- 

 bility to induce people to buy and eat it. Good as 

 was the meat, his customers, with typical British 

 mistrust, would have nothing to say to such new- 

 fangled stuff. The eland is so comely, so striking, 

 and yet withal so gentle a beast, uniting some of the 

 finest points of the antelope family with those of the 

 zebu of India, and is so easily domesticated and bred 

 in this country, that the wonder is herds are not 

 more often seen in private grounds. A little fresh 

 blood now and again would serve to keep up the 

 required condition and growth. 



Great as is its bulk, the eland, in its small game- 

 like head, handsome horns, and slender, beautifully 

 formed limbs, effectually saves itself from the unjust 

 reproach of the hunter, who, having easily galloped 



