108 HIPPO AND LEOPARD [ch. v 



party of cows would go alone, or three or four bulls 

 might be found together. In spite of its name, we did 

 not find it much given to going in the water, although 

 it would cross the river fearlessly whenever it desired ; 

 it was, however, always found not very far from water. 

 It liked the woods, and did not go many miles from the 

 streams, yet we frequently saw^ it on the open plains a 

 mile or two from trees, feeding in the vicinity of the 

 zebra and the hartebeest. This was, however, usually 

 quite early in the morning or quite late in the afternoon. 

 In the heat of the day it clearly preferred to be in the 

 forest, along the stream's edge, or in the bush-clad 

 ravines. 



The impalla are found in exactly the same kind of 

 country as the water-buck, and often associate with 

 them. To my mind they are among the most beautiful 

 of all antelope. They are about the size of a white- 

 tailed deer, their beautiful annulated horns making a 

 single spiral, and their coat is like satin with its con- 

 trasting shades of red and w^hite. They have the most 

 gracefid movements of any animal I know, and it is 

 extraordinary to see a herd start off when frightened, 

 both buck and does bounding clear over the top of the 

 tall bushes, w^ith a peculiar birdlike motion and light- 

 ness. ITsually a single old buck will be found with a 

 large company of does and fawns ; the other bucks go 

 singly or in small parties. It was in the middle of 

 May, and we saw fawns of all ages. When in the 

 open, where, like the w^aterbuck, it often went in the 

 morning and evening, the impalla was very shy, but I 

 did not find it particularly so among the woods. In con- 

 nection w'ith shooting two of the impalla, there occurred 

 little incidents which are worthy of mention. 



In one case I had just killed a waterbuck cow, 



