HABITS MODES OP HUNTING. 467 



This species of antelope is gregarious, though seldom seen 

 in large herds, five or six being the usual number. The 

 males are frequently met with singly. 



As already seen, when taken young, this animal is easily 

 domesticated, and becomes very tame. Notwithstanding, to 

 the best of my belief, no specimen has ever been brought to 

 this country alive. 



From the koodoo's secluded habits, fewer of these animal? 

 are killed — as regards Damara-land, at least — than any oth- 

 er species of antelope indigenous to Southern Africa. He is 

 sometimes hunted on horseback, and if a hunter has the good 

 fortune to meet with one in a favorable and open locality, 

 there is no great difficulty in running it down ; but as the 

 animal holds, for the most part, to hilly and stony ground, 

 and such as is wooded withal, the chase, even if successful,' 

 usually proves an arduous one. 



The preferable course is to hunt it on foot. Stalking the 

 koodoo was a favorite pursuit of mine, and many a noble- 

 stag have I thus laid low. But, on account of the wooded 

 nature of the country it inhabits, the difficulty of approach- 

 ing unperceived within gunshot is very considerable, and it 

 is greatly increased by Nature, who, with her usual wonder- 

 ful provision, has provided the koodoo with the most exqui- 

 site sense of hearing. Its large, prominent ears apparently 

 act as a kind of focus, against which any unusual noise or 

 sound is quickly arrested in its progress. 



The Bushmen have a way of their own of hunting tho 

 koodoo, viz., by running it down, not by speed of foot, but by 

 gradually exhausting it. When a hunt of this kind is de- 

 cided on, a number of these people assemble, armed with as- 

 segais, &c. Having started the animal, one of the part}' 

 takes up its " spoor" at a quick pace, the rest following more 

 leisurely. On feeling fatigued, the leading man drops behind 

 his comrades, and the next in order takes up the pursuit, and 

 so on, until they secure the prize. Sometimes this is effected 



