OUREBI AND DUYKER. 143 



tions ; however, as we gain greater elevation, boul- 

 ders and rocks become more numerous, rendering- 

 progression slower. On traversing a little valley, 

 the bottom of which had a thick covering of reeds, 

 an ourebi jumped up at my feet and made for the 

 hill sides. This animal's erratic doubling course, 

 every few seconds broken by an extraordinary leap, 

 is very amusing. This last habit must be per- 

 formed for the purpose of examining the country 

 before it to learn whether it is free of obstacles or 

 enemies ; in spite of this it can scarcely be deemed 

 wary, for it will invariably, when it considers itself 

 out of sight of the alarmer, turn up wind, and squat 

 under the nearest grass, or reeds that will secrete it. 

 Scarcely had the ourebi passed out of sight when a 

 duyker bok jumped from under a bush, and, with 

 this species' usual artfulness, availed itself of every 

 piece of cover that could hide it, if only momen- 

 tarily, from the human eye. At neither of these 

 did I fire, for my ambition soared to larger game. 



Soon after I was rewarded with a sight, although 

 not with a shot, at some pallahs on the opposite 

 hillside. They were certainly aware of our presence ; 

 still they appeared to be in no hurry. To head 

 them would have taken too much trouble, although 

 this is the best way to get a shot at this species, for 

 once they have selected their path they will not, 

 except under most urgent circumstances, deviate 

 from it. They stand nearly forty inches at the 



