THE ANTELOPES AND GAZELLES 133 



cousins, the kobs. Three or four of these animals 

 are usually found in a party the ram, ewe, and one 

 or two young. The reedbuck ram stands about 

 3 feet at the shoulder, and carries well - annul ated 

 horns, which bend outward, backward, and upward, 

 and measure in fine specimens as much as 16 or 18 

 inches. From 13 to 14 inches are good measure- 

 ments for average horns. The females are hornless. 

 The coat is yellowish brown in colour, the hair 

 of the neck being thick and lengthy. The tail 

 short, broad, and bushy, and white underneath is 

 much employed, and when the buck is alarmed and 

 darts off, it is elevated and depressed in a curiously 

 restless manner. When alarmed or disturbed the 

 reedbuck usually gives vent to a shrill whistle, and 

 at night the same sound may be frequently heard 

 as the animals are on the move or at play. A 

 reedbuck will often lie extremely close, and starting 

 out suddenly from its form, dashes off at great 

 speed, so that the hunter requires to be a quick and 

 alert shot with the rifle to bring it down. These 

 animals, however, often stand again in a hundred 

 yards or so, so that a fair, if somewhat rapid, shot 

 can be obtained. Occasionally they may be stalked 

 with some success, but they are very restless beasts, 

 and the approach must be made with great caution. 

 The .303, or Mannlicher, is an excellent rifle for 

 this buck ; but they are wiry animals, very tenacious 

 of life, and expanding bullets should be employed 

 with them. The flesh is not very good eating. It 

 is curious, indeed, how few of the water-frequenting 



