GERENUK 



75 



to ten individuals, and is generally found on stony ground much 

 broken up into ravines and gulleys, and covered more or less densely 

 with trees, bushes, and various species of aloes bristling with thorns. 



" The gerenuk is a browsing animal, and not infrequently met with 

 in localities so barren that grass is entirely absent. In such localities 

 it feeds entirely upon the leaves of such trees as it can readily reach ; 

 and has the curious habit of supporting itself against the trunk by its 

 fore-feet, and so partly climbing up, and by means of its long neck 



Fig. 57. — Gerenuk at home, from Mr. A. H. Neumann's Elephant- Hunting in East Africa. 



reaching leaves at a considerable distance, say 6 to 7 feet, from the 

 ground. 



" Like all antelopes, this species is possessed of great curiosity, 

 a failing that is often fatal to its safety ; and whenever it sees an 

 unusual object, as a hunter, for instance, it will stand absolutely 

 motionless and gaze steadily, sometimes for several minutes. If it sees 

 no movement in the object of its suspicions, it will commence to feed, 

 or walk slowly along in its usual careless way. These moments, when 

 he is being so closely scrutinised, are trying to the hunter, who is 

 obliged to remain absolutely rigid, no matter what his position may 

 be, until the gerenuk is satisfied there is no danger ; otherwise, if the 

 slightest motion is detected, the head is dropped behind the bush and 



