The Antelopes 



245 



projecting piece of rock, and to climb in a series of little jumps up the faces of cliffs which 

 seem almost perpendicular. 



In height the klipspringer stands about 1 foot 9 inches at the shoulder. The males alone 

 carry horns, which are straight and ringed at the base, and vary from 3 to 5 inches in 

 length. The coat is of a greeny yellow-brown colour, with the hairs hollow and brittle. These 

 little animals are usually met with singly, or in twos and threes together. When caught 

 young, they become wonderfully tame, and make the most charming pets, being very playful 

 and fond of jumping, with surprising ease and grace, from the floor of a room on to any 

 elevated position, such as a table, mantelpiece, or window-sill. 



THE WATERBUCKS. 



The largest animals in the first of three groups now to be considered are the WATERBUCKS,. 

 antelopes of stout and sturdy build, standing from 45 to 50 inches at the shoulder, and covered 

 with long, coarse hair, especially on the neck, in both sexes. The males alone carry horns, 

 which vary from 20 to 36 inches in length, and are strongly ringed in front for three-fourths 

 of their length. They are sublyrate in shape, being first inclined backwards and then forwards 

 at the tips. There are three well-marked species of waterbuck viz. the COMMON WATERBUCK 

 of South Africa, whose range 

 extends from the Limpopo 

 northwards, through Nyasa- 

 land to German and British 

 East Africa, and to the 

 Shebeyli Eiver, in Somali- 

 land ; the SING-SING of Senegal 

 and Gambia ; and the DEFASSA 

 WATERBUCK of Western 

 Abyssinia and the Nile Valley, 

 south to Uganda and British 

 and German East Africa. In 

 habits all species of water- 

 buck are very similar. They 

 live generally, though not 

 invariably, in herds of from 

 ten to twenty individuals, and 

 in such small herds there is 



seldom more than one full-grown male present. In the interior of South Africa the waterbuck 

 is often met with amongst steep stony hills and at a distance of more than a mile from the 

 nearest river. Speaking generally, however, this antelope may be said to frequent the near 

 neighbourhood of water, but to prefer dry to swampy ground. When chased by dogs it always 

 makes for water, and will plunge fearlessly into broad, deep rivers, regardless of crocodiles, to 

 which ravenous reptiles it sometimes falls a victim. In South Africa waterbuck vary much in 

 colour even in the same district, some being reddish brown, whilst others are of a very dark 

 grey. The flesh of the waterbuck is coarse, and sometimes rather strongly tasted, and when 

 in good condition the fat is very hard. 



The REEDBUCKS are similar in essential characters to the waterbucks, but are of 

 smaller size, and have more bushy tails, and naked spots on the sides of the head beneath 

 the ears. 



Of this group the COMMON REEDBUCK of South Africa is the best known. This animal 

 stands 3 feet at the withers, and is of a soft greyish fawn-colour, with a large fluffy tail, which 

 is always thrown up when the animal runs, exposing the white under-surface. The males alone 

 carry horns, which curve backwards and then forwards, and attain a length of from 12 to 16 

 inches. Reedbucks are met with singly or in twos and threes, and never congregate in herds, 



Photo by S. ff. Payne, Aylesbury, by permission 



MALE SAIGA ANTELOPES. 



These antelopes inhabit the Bast Russian steppes. The thick woolly coat turns nearly white in 



winter. 



