170 ANTELOPES 



height is from 24 to 27 inches, and the average length of the horns 

 about 4 inches, although a length of 7^ inches is on record. 



" These little antelopes," writes Mr. F. Vaughan Kirby, " range from 

 the south-eastern portions of Cape Colony through Natal, Zululand, 

 the Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal. They are fairly 

 numerous in parts of Bechuanaland, on the north side of the Chobi 

 river, as well as in north-east Mashonaland, while they are abundant 

 on the open downs of Manicaland, and in Portuguese East Africa. 

 Oribi are equally at home on the lofty summits of the Drakensberg, 

 among the rolling foot-hills, and on the sweltering plains of the 

 Pungwi and Urema rivers in Portuguese East Africa. At the higher 

 elevations they frequent the most open ground, lying in grassy hollows, 

 or sheltered slopes, or among out -cropping rocks ; but in the low 

 country they are found among palm -groves and in dwarf scrubby 

 bush. They associate in pairs or in small parties of three or four, 

 and when disturbed dart off at a rapid pace, running low for about 

 30 yards, and then commencing to spring into the air, alighting each 

 time first upon their hind-legs. Oribi fawns are usually born about 

 Christmas, although I have seen many in Portuguese East Africa 

 which appeared fully two months old at the end of November. 



" Oribi -shooting with the rifle is excellent sport. Formerly we 

 used to hunt on horseback, and ride into the patches, dismounting as 

 the game jumped away, and taking the shot as quickly as possible ; 

 but better sport may perhaps be obtained on foot if the grass is not 

 too long. The oribi may be seen standing or feeding ; but on dis- 

 covering the sportsman they immediately lie down, when the latter 

 must manoeuvre round them, approaching nearer and nearer, and being 

 ready to fire immediately they jump up. When on foot, the sports- 

 man should carefully survey the ground ahead with glasses especially 

 sloping hill -sides as an oribi, with its yellow coat, is, though small, 

 a conspicuous object ; but practice is required to distinguish between 

 the small yellow ant-heaps and the game. Oribi have a great turn of 

 speed, and only good greyhounds will run them down. The flesh is 

 excellent eating, but, like that of all the smaller antelopes, requires 

 well larding." 



The tracks or " spoor " of the oribi are heart-shaped, in which 

 respect they resemble those of the undermentioned steinbok and 

 grysbok. In the steinbok the length of each hoof-print is one 

 inch, but in the oribi it is rather more, while in the grysbok it is 

 slightly less. 



