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bushes. They drink regularly three times a day morning, mid-day, 

 and evening and even oftener in very hot weather. Their leaping 

 powers are extraordinary ; and I have been told, on credible authority, 

 that a ram was once seen to clear a distance of 35 feet. I have, 

 however, only once obtained a record of the distance covered, which 

 measured 70 feet in three leaps of 26, 16, and 28 feet. It is one of 

 the prettiest sights imaginable to see a troop streaking in a red line 

 through the bush, and bounding over the scrub ; six, eight, or ten at a 

 time leaping high over the backs of the others. I am not certain 

 about their staying power, but for a short distance they seem the 

 fleetest antelopes in South Africa. Impala feed and stand more or 

 less throughout the day, but solitary males lie down. 



" Large numbers are destroyed annually by lions and leopards, the 

 nature of the country they inhabit favouring the stealthy advance of 

 these creatures. When once a troop starts to run in a particular 

 direction, scarcely anything will turn them, and if, after alarming them, 

 the sportsman runs through the bush to cut them off, they will pass 

 within a few feet of him, merely ' putting on steam,' bending lower to 

 their work, and performing prodigies of leaping. In October the ewes 

 become very fat, and afford excellent meat ; but in very dry seasons 

 they are much troubled with bots. The young are born in November 

 and December. During the rutting-season the rams constantly utter 

 loud, hoarse, guttural sounds, audible at a great distance, day and night : 

 at such times they are particularly easy to stalk, and often fight fiercely 

 amongst themselves. They utter a short bark sometimes when alarmed, 

 but their usual warning-note is a loud snort, particularly when they 

 sight a lion or leopard. 



" They are easy animals to stalk, but unquestionably more tenacious 

 of life than any of the smaller, if not of the larger, antelopes ; and, unless 

 hit in a vital spot, will certainly be lost in the thick bush they frequent. 

 When hunting one morning in the Matamiri, and endeavouring to 

 stalk a big impala ram one of a troop which stood on the far 

 side of an open glade as I approached, another herd ran out from my 

 left into the glade and ranged themselves on the side nearest myself. 

 All were evidently intent upon something else, and permitted me to 

 approach within twenty yards. I put up my rifle, and was trying to 

 get a sight on the big ram, when a chorus of angry snorts and barks 

 broke from them, and two ewes bounded across the space between the 

 two herds, closely followed by a leopard. The latter pulled up in the 

 middle of the glade, his flanks heaving heavily, and his tail twitching 

 angrily. The impala never moved, but with outstretched necks, and 



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