DEFASSA OR SING-SING 203 



very rarely far from bush or other covert, into which they can retire for 

 safety, although occasionally they are seen in places where they are 

 seldom disturbed a good way out in the open plains in the early 

 morning. Compared with other antelopes they are tame beasts, and 

 are not difficult to stalk even in places where other game is un- 

 approachable. On one occasion, at the south end of Lake Nakuru, 

 where they are very numerous, and where, from being constantly 

 harassed by the VVanderobbo, the hartebeest and Grant's gazelles were 

 so wild that they went clean away when I was half a mile off, two 

 parties of defassa, standing and lying down under the shade of large 

 isolated trees, allowed me and my gun-bearers to walk past within 

 1 20 yards, and even when the caravan came up only moved about 

 50 yards farther. On another occasion, at Baringo, I walked past a 

 small herd within 80 yards, and beyond standing and gazing in their 

 inquisitive-looking way, they took no notice. 



" The cows drop their young from about the middle of December 

 to the end of February. The calves are hardy little animals, and very 

 soon become remarkably tame in captivity. One I had at the Ravine 

 Station was eight months old when I left in August 1898, and was 

 then little more than half-grown. It was quite tame and had the free 

 run of the place, but never went far from the fort, and returned again 

 regularly about four o'clock. The horns were just beginning to show 

 when I left, although a young cow hartebeest, two months younger, 

 had already developed horns over two inches long. 



" The measurements and weights of a bull and cow taken on the 

 spot, not gralloched, are as follows : Bull, total length, 8 feet i^ inches ; 

 height at shoulder, 4 feet 3 inches ; tail, I foot 3^ inches ; weight, 

 487 Ib. Cow, total length, 7 feet 8 inches ; height at shoulder, 3 feet 

 3^ inches; tail, I foot i^ inches; weight, 395 Ib." 



Writing of the Gambian or West African race, or sing-sing, Major 

 A. J. Arnold observes that 



" It must be on the lucus a non lucendo principle that it is known 

 as a waterbuck, for it is found only in hilly and, as a rule, stony 

 country. The upper slopes or flat crests of stony ridges are quite the 

 most likely ground whereon to find it, though there it must rather be 

 looked for in the precipitous gullies and nullas which cut up the 

 surface. When met with on the lower slopes, it will invariably head 

 up-hill, and dash across the roughest boulders with amazing fearlessness 

 and sureness of foot. The only time I have heard of these antelopes 

 by water in numbers was up the river Benuc, towards Yola, when an 

 officer of the Royal Niger Constabulary steaming up-stream saw a 



