234 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



Of all the larger antelopes the horns of the harte- 

 beest are least fitted for defence. Even among them- 

 selves during the rutting season the bulls inflict 

 little damage upon each other. They fling them- 

 selves upon their knees, depress their heads, and 

 batter one another stoutly, but there is little harm 

 done. I have seen them at play, out of the rutting 

 season, engaged in this pastime, kneeling and butting, 

 very much as lambs may be seen at home. It was a 

 curious and very interesting performance, soon, how- 

 ever, to be disturbed. The eyes, which are placed 

 extremely high in the head, are well calculated to 

 command a wide field of vision. They lack the 

 melting beauty of so many of the antelopes, and 

 are of a reddish hue. The brain, too, is placed very 

 high in the skull. Just below the eyes there is on 

 either side of the face a curious whorl of thick hair. 

 These prominent circular patches add to the other 

 facial singularities of these antelopes. The face is 

 black ; a black list runs down the ridge of the neck ; 

 and the well-bushed tail, which reaches below the 

 hocks, is also black, with a curious tint of red in the 

 hair. There are dark streaks also on the fore and 

 hind legs. A patch or blaze of yellowish-white 

 marks the rump. The general colour of the ante- 

 lope is, as I have said, a bright brownish-bay. The 

 coat is short, smooth, and shining. The slope from 

 the withers to the rump is more pronounced than in 



