COLORATION 75 



not speak. But we have carefully observed the habits of 

 zebra, eland, oryx, wildebeest, hartebeest, topi, kob, impalla, 

 big gazelle, and little gazelle. All these animals come to 

 water in the same manner. They not only make no attempt 

 whatever to hide while approaching the water, drinking, or 

 leaving it, but their methods of approach are such as to make 

 it impossible for them to escape the observation of the dull- 

 est beast of prey that has eyes at all. They, if anything, 

 avoid cover. They advance in the open. They come string- 

 ing toward the pools or streams in long files, occasionally 

 bunching together. 



Where there is no cover at the drinking-places, they may 

 come to them alone or in small parties. Where there is 

 cover, or where there is much fear of lions, the different 

 species of a given district may come singly or in small 

 parties, or they may join and come to the drinking-place 

 in a throng, as has been described by Sir Samuel Baker, in 

 his "Nile Tributaries," and by Doctor A. Berger, in "Afrikas 

 Wildkammern." In either event, the animals neither hide 

 nor seek to take advantage of cover during the approach. 

 They walk forward, halt to look around, and then walk for- 

 ward again. They are always on the watch. Occasionally 

 they wheel and gallop off, either in mere panic or perhaps (as 

 has been suggested by Mr. Hodson, in "The Great Thirst," 

 as to roan and sable antelopes) to lure any foe to show him- 

 self. Their whole concern is themselves to detect the pres- 

 ence of any lurking enemy; they make no effort to escape the 

 observation of this lurking enemy. If they are very thirsty, 

 and yet suspicious of the lion's presence, they will often 

 hover about the neighborhood for many minutes at a dis- 

 tance from the pool. At last they may charge madly down 



