14 HUNTING TRIPS IN NORTHERN RHODESIA. 



They doubtless go high to escape flies and other insects which bother them, 

 and for coolness. 



A herd of sable is one of the most beautiful sights that the sportsman can 

 see, and they are fairly abundant in this country at the present time. A good male 

 head will measure 4oin. on the curve, and a female's 28in. 



I would put the weight of a male at 35olb. Most of the weight is in the neck 

 and shoulders, for these animals slope away behind more than any other species. It 

 was discovered by Capt. Harris about 1838, and was formerly called the Harrisbuck. 



Kudu (Strepsicei-os kudu). — If a sportsman was asked which antelope he would 

 prefer to bag in preference to others, he would likely mention this animal, for the 

 head forms one of the most splendid trophies in the world. 



The animal itself is a picture of beauty, for it is well proportioned and 

 exceedingly graceful. The skin is a greyish-blue colour with white stripes, and 

 an old bull will sometimes be almost hairless, but not in such a degree as an old 

 bull eland. The male has usually a long fringe of hair under his throat, which adds 

 beauty to his appearance. People at home have only got to examine the fine 

 specimen set up in the Natural History Museum at South Kensington to see what 

 a fine animal the kudu is, but he looks still finer when seen standing on some rugged 

 hillside, with the grey rocks and rough scrub round him and a blue sky overhead. 



The females are hornless, although instances are known of their bearing horns, 

 but this is quite exceptional and may be looked on as a freak when it occurs. The 

 females have abnormally large ears and are much smaller in the body than the 

 males. A good head in this country will measure 56in. on the curve, and the weight 

 of the animal be about 55olb. I would put the weight of a female at about 4001b. 



The feet are very neatly formed, and make nice trophies. 



ROAN {Hippotragus equinus). — This is a large animal, and in my opinion not 

 nearly such a fine beast as his cousin, the sable. As its name implies, the colour 

 is roan — sometimes a red roan and sometimes a blue. The hide seems to appear 

 different in varying lights, and I think the older beasts have the blue tint 

 predominating. 



The oldest animal I ever shot was very blue, doubtless due to his having 

 lost a lot of hair. 



Roan horns are nearly always of different length, as the animals use one horn 

 more than the other in routing up the ground and for fighting, for roan bulls seem 

 to fight with one another more than any other of the antelopes. 



They are constantly rubbing their horns on trees, which is a habit all antelopes 

 have, and the hollows between the ridges of the horns will always be found full of 



