THE RHEEBOC 



393 



reaching nineteen inches. The puku is a plumply-built animal, with a very erect 

 carriage, and its horns may attain a length of sixteen inches along the curve. 

 The lichi is distinguished by its 

 superior size, less erect carriage, 

 and the completely fawn-colored 

 ears of- the adult; the general color 

 being pale brown, with the under 

 parts and rings round the eyes 

 whitish. The horns seldom ex- 

 ceed twenty-four inches in length, 

 although they have been recorded 

 of twenty-seven and one-half inches. 

 The lichi is strictly a swamp- 

 dwelling animal, and, when undis- 

 turbed, can be approached very 

 easily. Mr. Selous states that when 

 these antelopes " first make up their 

 minds to run, they stretch out their 

 noses, the males laying their horns 

 flat along their sides and trot; but 

 on being pressed they break into a 

 springing gallop, now and then 

 bounding high into the air. Even 

 when in water up to their necks 

 they do not swim, but get along 

 by a succession of bounds, making 

 a tremendous splashing. Of course, when the water becomes too deep for them 

 to bottom they are forced to swim, which they do well and strongly, though 

 not so fast as the natives can paddle; and when the country is flooded, great 

 numbers are driven into deep water and speared." Generally these animals are to 

 be seen standing knee or belly- deep in the water, lazily cropping the aquatic plants, 

 or reposing close to the water's edge. Puku are usually met with in herds of from 

 three to twelve in number, although occasionally as many as fifty may be seen to- 

 gether. They are generally found on dry ground close to the edges of the rivers, 

 but when pursued will take readily to the water. Mr. Selous states that puku and 

 lichi are never found together, although the latter may a sociate with pala. 



THE PUKU. 



(After Livingstone.) 



THE RHEEBOC 

 Genus Pelea 



The rheeboc, or vaal rheeboc (Pelea capreola], is the first representative of the 

 second division of the Cervicaprine group, in which the species are mostly of small 

 size, and characterized by their short and nearly upright horns. Of this subgroup 

 the rheeboc, which stands about thirty inches at the withers, is the largest species. 



