332 WILD BEASTS AND THKIR WAYS CHAP. 



frequent. They arc highly pugnacious, and I have frequently 

 obtained a shot when two old bucks have been so closely engaged 

 in their duel that, although the herd had lied, they were too much 

 occupied to notice my appearance. 



The live weight of an average buck is about 85 Ibs. It is 

 difficult to give an average of horns, as they vary in different 

 districts and animals. I have heard of horns that were 28 inches 

 in direct length measured from point to base, but I have never 

 shot them longer than 23.-,-. I should say a length of 19 inches 

 would be a fair average. They arc most regularly spiral, and to 

 be good specimens they should be exactly alike in length and 

 inclination from the base. 



In the description of the hunting leopard (Fclis jubata) I have 

 already given an account of the speed of the black-buck ; there 

 is nothing more interesting than to watch the habits and the 

 movements of these graceful animals through powerful binocular 

 glasses, which upon an open plain permit you to examine them as 

 though in the centre of the herd. 



If there is a public road through the cultivated fields upon 

 which these antelopes love to graze, you may sometimes pass them 

 within 100 yards, provided that you are either riding or driving; 

 but if on foot, they will not permit a near approach, although they 

 will take but little heed of ordinary natives. They are afraid of 

 elephants, and will seldom allow them to come within 200 paces ; 

 the only method by which you can obtain an ordinary range is by 

 stalking them with a horse or trained ox, or by following behind a 

 bullock-cart such as the natives use upon their farms. 



The most favourable ground for black-buck is a mixture of 

 great cultivated flats, with neighbouring tracts of wilderness, where 

 low hills, broken ground, and thick bush afford a sanctuary for 

 their retreat, and for the rearing of their young. 



A few shots fired upon a vast area of young wheat will soon 

 scare the animals from the locality, and should there be no jungle, 

 or hills within several miles, they will disappear entirely. 



If there is an extensive area of rough jungle to which they can 

 retire, you may sometimes obtain good .shots by stalking carefully 

 up wind, as the animal may be discovered beneath the imaginary 

 security of the bushes ; but even then the greatest caution must 

 be observed, as the game is always on the alert. 



When, upon the open plain, the black-buck has arrived at the 

 conclusion to retreat, the sight is most interesting, as the speed 

 and agility of the animal are at once displayed to the fullest 

 extent. The females of the herd trot oft' for a few yards, and then 



