THE ANTELOPES AND GAZELLES 183 



The feet are extraordinarily constructed, the pasterns 

 being extremely rigid, and the hoofs deeply hollowed, 

 blunt at the tips, and cylindrical, the effect of the 

 combination being that the animal walks, as it were, 

 upon the tips of its toes. No surer -footed beast 

 haunts the mountain than the klipspringer, and he 

 will leap 30 feet down a cliff-side on to some tiny 

 ledge or pinnacle of rock with as much ease and 

 calmness as a man will jump a hurdle. 



These antelopes, although frequenting the higher 

 mountains in Cape Colony, are found in some localities 

 on the lower slopes, and even in the valleys. When 

 thus encountered they always run for the hills adjacent. 

 They usually move in pairs or family groups, but 

 occasionally as many as seven or eight, probably a 

 couple of families, may be seen together. The 

 females are hornless. The venison of this little 

 buck is among the best in Africa. Klipspringer 

 (rock-leaper) or klip-bok is the Boer name for this 

 antelope, which has the scientific designation of 

 Qreotragus saltator. Native names are Hottentot, 

 Kainsi ; Zulu, Swazi, and Matonga, Ligoka ; 

 Bechuana, Mokabayane ; Matabele, Ee-gogo ; Cape 

 Kaffir, Ikoko ; Transvaal Basuto, Ikuni ; Masarwa 

 Bushmen, Kululu ; Makalaka, Ingululu ; Somali, 

 Alakud ; Abyssinian, Sass. 



THE SPRINGBUCK 



Springbuck are still, happily, in spite of much per- 

 secution, among the commonest antelopes in South 



