Tiang 



themselves to feed without first posting a sentinel 

 on some high spot, usually an ant-heap, whence 

 he can command a good view over the surround- 

 ing country. This sentinel never feeds or plays 

 when he is on duty, but standing erect and 

 motionless and looking somewhat ungainly, he 

 sniffs the breeze incessantly and scans the plains 

 in search of a possible enemy. As soon as 

 danger of any sort is suspected he warns the 

 remainder of the herd by a stamp on the ground 

 and a loud sneeze. At this signal up goes every 

 head, every ear is pricked, every sharp eye scans 

 the grass and bushes on all sides, every nostril is 

 distended, sniffing for the slightest taint on the 

 breeze. 



After this signal is given, lie quiet ; as on the 

 smallest mistake of showing yourself or allowing 

 a tiang to catch sight of the glint off your rifle 

 barrel, good-bye to any chance of getting a shot 

 at that herd. Immediately the whole family, 

 awkward and angular though they look when at 

 rest, are off in a long graceful swinging gallop, 

 which enables them to cover the ground far 

 quicker than seems at first possible ; and they 

 will continue their flic^ht for some distance. If 

 they should meet a belt of bush on their way, 

 don't make the mistake of looking for them in it, 

 as they will have passed right through, and will 

 be found well out on the open plain. But it is of 

 little use pursuing a startled herd. 



171 



