no CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



IMPALA (i^pyceros melampus). 



(Central African variety known as Johnston!.) 



Native Names. 



Chinyanja Nswala. Chitonga Swala. 



Chiyao Swala. Chibisa Mpala. 



Chikunda Mpala. Chiwemba Mpala. 



Zulu (Ngoni) .... Nswala. Chisenga Mpala. 



Food. 

 Pods and leaves of Msekesi or Chitimbi. Grass. 



Spoor. 



Much like that of reedbuck, but the impala is generally found in larger numbers 

 and makes beaten paths which could not be mistaken for the spoor of reedbuck. 



Habitat. 



Forest land on the banks of large rivers or lakes where the banks are hard, dry, 

 and not swampy. 



Although found in a good many places, is rather a local animal, and seldom 

 wanders far from its usual grazing grounds, and will never be found more than a mile 

 or two from a big river or lake. 



It prefers what is often referred to as park-like country, with trees not crowded 

 together, and, as a rule, hard red soil with short grass, but is hardly ever found in long 

 grass. 



Habits. 



Found in herds numbering about thirty to forty head, in which there may be any 

 number of males. One animal by itself is not often seen. 



The Central African variety carries very much smaller horns than those of East 

 Africa, a head over 21 in. being seldom shot. 



In many places there are enormous numbers of these animals, but herds never 

 appear to exceed fifty in number, and the different herds, although two or three may 

 be found grazing together, always keep distinct. 



Impala bark when they see anything to alarm them. 



They are very curious, and if the sportsman, on unwittingly discovering himself. 



