CHAPTER II. 



I. THE GAME— ANTELOPES. 



IN describing the various species of animals which are to be found in Northern 

 Rhodesia I hsve thought it best to begin with the smallest and work up to the 



largest — the elephant. This list is fairly complete, and includes all the animals 

 likely to be met with in this country. In giving the weights of game I may say that 

 these are only approximate, and I have tried to err on the right side by under and not 

 over estimating their correct weights. The weights given are for full-grown males. 



Steinbuck, Sharpe's. — This animal is the smallest of the antelope tribe found 

 in Northern Rhodesia, and is very plentiful in certain parts of the country, but 

 it is very localised and only appears in certain districts. I have put up as many 

 as eight in an afternoon's walk. 



It presents a difficult target for a rifle as it seldom stands after being put up, 

 but goes clean away. They could be easily killed with a shotgun, but I do not 

 consider it quite sportsmanlike to use shot when it is possible to kill them with a 

 bullet. I had been some time in the country before I bagged one, although before 

 that I had missed several snapshots at them. Once I saw one run into a hole at the 

 base of a big tree, but when I got to the place I found the animal had gone out by 

 another hole on the other side. Their skins are a reddish colour interspersed with 

 whitish hairs. The males alone bear horns, and i^in. is a good head. The weight 

 I would put at about 2olb. Known as kansenye, the native name. 



Duiker, Common {Cephalophus grimmi). — The duiker is without doubt the 

 most plentiful of all the animals in this country, for one cannot go anywhere without 

 seeing it, although it is naturally more common in some places than in others. It 

 inhabits both hilly and flat country, and will often be found in the dambos and 

 clearings early in the morning and late in the evening. When the weather is cool 

 it will often remain in the open all day. It is a sporting little animal, and, considering 

 its small size, extremely tenacious of life, for I have often seen duiker run off with 

 a wound that would have instantly disabled a lion or leopard. These animals, like 

 most of the smaller antelopes, do not run in herds, and are found in couples or singly, 

 although one or more couples may sometimes be seen feeding in close proximity 

 when they are plentiful and the conditions favourable. Duiker are of a greyish-brown 



