1. THE GAME — ANTELOPES. 11 



impala bark, and lions, leopards, and pigs grunt. A good reedbuck head will be 

 I4in. on the curve, and the weight about 1401b. A reedbuck's skin is very thin, 

 almost like strong parchment. 



Bush BUCK (Tragelaphus scriptiis). — I think this animal is the most beautiful 

 of all the smaller or medium-sized antelopes. It takes its name from its habitat, 

 for it prefers thick bush, although it is often found in patches of thick grass near 

 rivers and streams. Again, it is often seen in hilly country when there is plenty 

 of cover. It comes into the native gardens at night, and is also very fond of 

 vegetables, so where there are bushbuck such patches have to be fenced in. It 

 is a sporting little animal, for quick shooting will sometimes be necessary if it is 

 to be brought to bag. Bushbuck, even in the same district, vary considerably as 

 to colour and markings. The older beasts appear to me to be browner than the 

 younger animals, which are of a bluish colour. They have a bare patch on the 

 neck almost devoid of hair. 1 say " almost," for if this patch is closely examined 

 it will be found to be covered with very fine short hair, and even in the older and 

 browner-coloured animals this patch is of a slaty-blue colour. Bushbuck are very 

 plucky, so care should be taken not to approach them too closely when wounded, for 

 they are wonderfully quick with their horns, and a stab in the lower part of the body 

 might be dangerous. In finishing a wounded buck with the knife, the proper way is 

 to approach from behind and grab the horns, pressing one side down and putting 

 the foot on it. In this position a comparatively small antelope is helpless, especially 

 if another man is holding the back legs. 



Large animals, such as roan, sable, &c., cannot be held like this unless they 

 are very far gone. 



A good bushbuck head will measure i6in. on the curve, and the weight of the 

 animal about 1401b. The females of this species are hornless. 



PuKU {Cohiis vardoni). — This animal is very locally distributed, but where it is 

 found it exists in great numbers. It is seldom seen far from water, either rivers 

 or swamps. Like all the Cobus family the puku is extremely tenacious of life, 

 unless hit properly, when it is as easily killed as any other animal. Its colour is a 

 light yellowish brown, verging to white on the belly. The males herd together out 

 of the breeding season, as do impala and other antelopes. 



The horns of this species (puku) grow bigger in this country than they do south 

 of the Zambesi, and I have seen a number of heads over i8in., but lyin. may be said 

 to be a good specimen. 



The animal is heavier than a bushbuck or reedbuck, so I put its weight at about 

 1701b. The females are hornless, and, like the females of most of the antelopes, 



