THE CAPE BUFFALO 789 



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alone, although they more usually associate in parties of two, three, or four, while 

 occasionally from eight to ten may be seen together. These small parties of bulls 

 are said to be much less wary, and, consequently, much more easy to approach than 

 large herds of cows; and solitary bulls are not regarded by Mr. Selous as more dan- 

 gerous than other members of the species. The same writer observes that for ani- 

 mals of such heavy build and bulk these buffaloes are remarkably swift; and it 

 requires a good horse to keep ahead of a charging buffalo even in the open; while in 

 cover, unless very fleet, the horse stands a good chance of being overtaken. Cape 

 buffaloes are commonly represented in pictures as charging with their heads lowered 

 to the ground and their tails raised high in the air. This, however, according to 

 Mr. Selous, is wholly incorrect, since, when charging, they " invariably hold their 

 noses straight out, and lay their horns back over their shoulders. They lower their 

 heads just as they strike." 



Mr. Drummond writes of the habits of this species as follows: "About sunrise 

 they drink a sufficient quantity of water to last during the long, hot day, and then 

 make their way to wherever they may have determined to sleep. This in summer 

 is generally on the highest and most breezy spot to be found, under the shelter of 

 two or three trees; in winter, in the thick jungle. They do not live farther from 

 water than possible, as the moment the sun goes down, often before, they go straight 

 to refresh themselves with a bath and drink before feeding, which they continue to 

 do till after midnight, making the most horrible maze of track imaginable. They 

 then rest and chew the cud for some time, getting up and continuing grazing until 

 it is time to revisit the river or hole, and so onward to their lair." 



The Cape buffalo breeds during the African summer, the young being born 

 from January to March, and there being apparently never more than one at a birth. 

 The calf is hidden in long grass; and for about ten days after its birth the cow sepa- 

 rates from the herd, and remains within a short distance of her offspring, which she 

 visits at intervals. In regard to the age to which the animal lives, Mr. Drummond 

 states that old, solitary bulls have been known as such for twelve years, and he con- 

 siders it probable that the full age may be about thirty years. 



The buffalo has but two enemies the lion and man; and the combined as- 

 saults of these two have in some districts so reduced its numbers that, according to 

 Mr. Drummond, writing as far back as 1875, where there were formerly herds of from 

 ten to one hundred in number, not ten head are to be found. A combat between 

 three lions and a bull buffalo has been mentioned in our notice of the lion. The 

 bulls frequently engage in rights between themselves; and Mr. Drummond gives the 

 following account of one such combat which he had the good fortune to witness:- 

 ' ' On looking through the edge of the last thicket which concealed them I saw two 

 buffalo bulls standing facing each other with lowered heads, and, as I sat down to 

 watch, they rushed together with all their force, producing the loud crash I had be- 

 fore heard. Once their horns were interlocked, they kept them so, their straining 

 quarters telling that each was doing his best to force the other backward. Several 

 long white marks on their necks showed where they had received scratches, and 

 blood dripping down the withers of the one next me proved that he had received a 

 more severe wound. It was a magnificent sight to see the enormous animals, every 



