244 HUNTING ADVENl'ULES. 



cry which is peculiar to them. When the hunter approachei 

 these old bulls, they commence whisking their long white tails in 

 a most eccentric manner ; then suddenly springing into the air, 

 they begin prancing and capering, and pursue each other in 

 circles at their utmost speed. Suddenly they all pull up together 

 to overhaul the intruder, when two of the bulls will often commence 

 fighting m the most violent manner, dropping on their knees at 

 every shock : then quickly wheeling about, they kick up their 

 heels, whirl their tails with a fantastic flourish, and scour across a 

 plain enveloped in a cloud of dust. 



Throughout the greater part of the plains frequented by bles 

 boks, numbers of the sun-baked hills or mounds of clay formed by 

 the white ants occur. The average height of the ant-hills, in 

 these district, is from two to three feet. They are generally dis- 

 tant from one another from one to three hundred yards, being 

 more or less thickly placed in different parts. These ant-hills are 

 of the greatest service to the hunter ; enabling himself with facility 

 to conceal himself on the otherwise open plain. By means of 

 them I was enabled to hide, and select out of the herds the bucks 

 and bulls carrying the finest heads, for my collection. 



On the 28th, having breakfasted, I rode forth with two after- 

 riders to try for blesboks, and took up positions on the plain, lying 

 flat on my breast behind ant-hills, while my after-riders, one of 

 whom led my horse, endeavored to move them toward me. We 

 found the blesboks abundant, but extremely wary. I wounded 

 several, but did not bag one. I, however, shot two springboks, 

 which were fat, and whose flesh we stood much in need of. I 

 had several chances of wildebeests, but I had icsolved not to fire 

 at them. 



The following day was the 1st of March. After an early break' 

 fast I again took the field, with my after-riders and a spare horse 

 There was thunder and lightning on all sides, and I expected the 

 day would set in wet : it all passed over, however, with a few 

 showers, and the weather was delightfully cool. I lay behind 

 ant-hills, while my men, extending to the right and left, endeavored 

 to drive the game toward me. Late in the day I bagged a fin 



