I. THE GAME — ANTELOPES. 1 5 



bark and often chipped in places. Considering the size of the animal, the horns are 

 insignificant, for an average pair will only measure about 26in. 



The weight of the animal I would say is about 6oolb. Roan meat is fairly good 

 eating, and the kidneys are particularly good. 



Eland {Taurotragus oryx). — A grand animal, which resembles an ox more 

 than an antelope. The eland is very plentiful all over this country, where the 

 conditions suit it. They prefer wild country, and are often found long distances 

 from water, and I believe they often go for some days without drinking. At the 

 season when the maize and other native crops are ripening they often invade the 

 gardens at night. When the crops have been gathered they also come to eat the 

 long dry stalks, and their spoor can often be found in such places. They leave a 

 very distinct track, easy to follow when the ground is not very hard, for they are 

 heavy animals. The old bulls get almost hairless, and will then be of a bluish 

 colour, but the younger beasts are a pretty light brown, the hide being striped with 

 white, something like a kudu's. In their habits they are very gregarious, although 

 sometimes the old bulls will be found singly. I once saw a herd of sixty-five 

 animals feeding in the open, but a friend told me he once saw a herd of over one 

 hundred and fifty of them. 



At certain times of the year they pack together. They possibly do this before 

 they leave for some well-known haunt. Although an eland looks a clumsy beast, he 

 can get over the ground at a good pace, which soon outdistances a man on foot, 

 although a horse can easily overtake them. 



An eland bull's horns soon begin to " go back " after he has reached maturity, 

 and they seem to wear them down more than any other antelope, except, perhaps, an 

 old roan bull. 



A good head will measure 28in. for a male or female, and the weight of a bull 

 be quite 1 2oolb. 



SKULL AND HORNS OF PUKU $. 



