23 o ANTELOPES 



the ground not more than fifteen paces distant. She knew instinctively 

 that she was discovered, and instantly jumped up, followed by the 

 ram, which fell a moment later to a Metford bullet. To have stalked 

 the ewe intentionally to such close quarters would have been impos- 

 sible, but in this case she knew she had not been seen, so lay low. In 

 the middle of the day it is best to hunt these antelopes from the saddle, 

 as it will be found necessary to cover much greater distances. If the 

 sides of the hills are too steep for riding, the horse can be led along 

 the top, and stones thrown into the kloof, when a fair chance will be 

 obtained as the game runs out on the other side. These antelopes 

 may almost invariably be brought to a stand, after they have started 

 to run, by a sharp whistle." 



Writing of the East African race, Mr. F. J. Jackson observes that 

 " it has a fairly wide range, and is found in the Kiyu hills south of 

 Machakos on the eastern side of Mount Kenia and west to the Ravine 

 Station on the eastern slopes of Mau. It is, however, very local, and 

 only found in hilly country, where it frequents the roughest and most 

 broken rocky slopes. Amongst other places where it may be found 

 are the Kiyu and Mwani hills, and the eastern rocky slopes of the 

 Kedong valley. It is smaller and more slender than the bohor reed- 

 buck, from which it may readily be distinguished by its stony grey 

 colour. The horns are also smaller and thinner, a good pair being 

 from 6 inches to 7 inches in length. It is usually found in small lots of 

 two or three ; but in the Keya hills I have seen five together. Its note 

 of alarm is a shrill whistle, not so loud as that of the bohor reedbuck. 

 Early morning and late evening are the best times to look for it, as it 

 is then feeding, and the chances of seeing it are better ; but it is by 

 no means easy to make out on account of its colour assimilating so 

 closely with the grey rock and stones amongst which it is found. 

 During the greater part of the day these reedbuck lie up under the 

 shade of some big boulder or bush, when they are practically invisible. 

 If sought for at other times the stalker should keep along or near the 

 tops of the rough rocky spurs, as these antelopes, like most hill-game, 

 appear to be more intent on watching for the appearance of danger 

 from below than from above." 



The record horn-length for the mountain-reedbuck is 8-| inches ; 

 the pair with this length having been obtained by Mr. Vaughan 

 Kirby at Humansdorp. 



