SPRINGBUCK 245 



estimated at from about 70 to 80 lb. The general colour of the 

 upper-parts is bright cinnamon-fawn, with the face, throat, under-parts, 

 inner sides of the limbs, and the long hairs of the dorsal fold and the 

 sides of the tail white. There is, however, a patch of fawn on the crown 

 of the head, a chestnut streak on each side of the face from the eye to 

 the angle of the mouth, and a broad chestnut band defining the fawn 

 of the sides from the white of the belly. The record horn-length is 

 19 inches. 



The haunts of the springbuck are the open plains of southern Africa, 

 on which the range in the central part of the continent extends to 

 about lat. 20' S., where it is bounded by the forests to the south of 

 the Mabibi river. On the east side the species ranges at least as far 

 north as the Limpopo, while on the west it reaches Mossamedes and 

 Benguela in southern Angola. 



So much has been written — from the time of Gordon Gumming 

 onwards — concerning the springbuck in South Africa, and especially 

 the countless thousands in which it formerly occurred, that it will be 

 well to take first the following abbreviated account from the pen of 

 Mr. G. W. Penrice of the species in Angola : — 



" In Angola the range of the springbuck extends from the mouth of 

 the Ouenene river, the southern limit of Portuguese territory, as far 

 north as Benguela, north of which there are none, while there is also 

 not one to be found beyond a thirty-mile range from the sea. This is 

 accounted for by the fact that the veldt alters and becomes unsuited to 

 the habits of these antelopes. Farther south, towards Mossamedes, 

 their range inland is somewhat more extended. In the Benguela 

 springbucks the faint markings are somewhat more defined, and the 

 patch of dark cinnamon-coloured hair between the horns is larger than 

 in the more southern form. The horns vary much in shape, the points 

 of some bending forwards, others inwards, and others again bending 

 backwards almost as much as in the chamois. Springbuck herd 

 together in large and small troops, males and females being found in 

 the same troops all the year round, although single bucks are often 

 met with. 



" The springbuck is, in my opinion, as handsome a buck as there is 

 in Africa ; and it is one of the {^w animals in which the Portuguese 

 have interested themselves sufficiently to give it a name. They call it 

 cabra de leqiie (goat of the fan), on account of the long white fringe of 

 hair that extends along the rump. On occasions the springbuck opens 

 this curious fan-like structure, spreading it out into a broad white 

 patch ; although when lying dormant it is hardly visible. 



