114 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



REEDBUCK (Cervicapra arundinum). 



(The common reed buck.) 



Native Names. 



Chinyanja Mpoyo. Chitonga Mpoyo. 



Chiyao Ndope. Chibisa Mvwe. 



Chikunda Mpoyo. Chiwemba Mfwe. 



Zulu (Ngoni). . . . Nshlangu. 



Food. 

 Grass feeder. 



Spoor. 



Generally found in dambos and open places, and do not go in large herds, so 

 unlikely to be confused with puku or impala. 



Habitat. 

 Open dambos, never far from water, and practically never seen in thick bush. 



Habits. 



Usually a male is accompanied by one or more females, but sometimes seen 

 in small herds numbering up to about seven, the remainder being probably the young 

 of the old male. 



The females make a shrill squeak on seeing anyone, bounding away a few yards 

 then stopping to look back again, and bounding off again, squeaking incessantly. 



As they sometimes precede the sportsman in this way, it is often excessively 

 annoying to him when after bigger game, as the noise gives the alarm to the whole 

 neighbourhood. 



The male is generally careful to keep a further distance away than the females 

 and leads the way in a retirement, as do the males of most game. 



The horns in Central Africa appear to be inferior to those of South Africa, 15 in. 

 being quite an exceptional measurement. 



The females are hornless. 



Notes. 



