16 STALKS ABROAD 



inquisitive little beast, and one hears numerous tales 

 of this trait in his character proving his undoing, 

 either through the prosaic medium of a piece of red 

 flannel, or a hat waved on the end of a rifle barrel. 

 Indeed, I have been told of old hunters who wore 

 shirts of a scarlet hue for the express delectation of 

 so curious a beast. Advancing civilisation has, how- 

 ever, cured him of any tendencies in this direction ; 

 he found he had to pay too heavy a price for 

 setting his mind at ease. His greatest safeguard 

 lies in his power of vision, which is certainly equal 

 if not superior to so keen-sighted an animal as the 

 mountain sheep. I have seen the latter lay aside 

 for the nonce his habitual watchfulness ; but never 

 an antelope that was not on the alert and ready to 

 fly at a moment's notice. 



A full-grown buck will stand about 37 inches at 

 the shoulder and can be easily distinguished from 

 the females and smaller bucks by the dark line of 

 hair across the forehead. This, with the patch 

 under each ear and his black horns and eyes, gives 

 him the appearance of having a very dark head. 

 The illusion is heightened by a comparison with 

 the light tones which prevail elsewhere. When an 

 antelope faces you the noticeable features about him 

 are the large prominent eyes, which are his most 

 striking characteristic, and can be seen at a distance 

 of two hundred yards ; his black nose ; the black 

 tips to his ears ; the white bands on his neck, and 

 white underparts. 



