With Flashlight and Rifle -* 



German East Africa in the year 1896. Both Count 

 Teleki and Hohnel speak in their works of a long-necked 

 gazelle which they had killed near the Pangani, whilst 

 on their wonderful journey of discovery to the Rudolf 

 and Stephanie lakes ; but they give no other particulars. 

 I am of opinion that they had found a gerenuk gazelle, 

 a species unknown to them. It was in the neighbourhood 

 of the Buiko, at the foot of the South Pare Mountains, at 

 sunset, that I came suddenly upon one of these beautiful 

 gazelles just as it was in the act of raising itself on its 

 hind-legs to pluck the scanty leaves of a mimosa, for it 

 was during the dry season. For a moment I imagined 

 it to be a giraffe ! However, I immediately saw my error. 

 I knew the appearance of the gerenuk gazelle from pictures, 

 and I joyfully thought to myself that I had here found 

 a species of gazelle quite unsuspected in these parts. 

 Great was my desire to get hold of the animal; but I failed, 

 because of the uncertain evening light. I fired twice, 

 but missed each time. Next morning, however, another 

 European succeeded in killing a female of this species. 

 Thus to my great joy my observations were confirmed, 

 for great doubt had been expressed in the camp the evening 

 before as to their accuracy. This was a most striking 

 illustration of our superficial knowledge about East African 

 animals. 



Soon I was able to ascertain that the gerenuk gazelle 

 is widely distributed and is frequently to be met with, but 

 that it is game only for the skilful hunter. They lie in the 

 midst of the thickest thorn-wildernesses far from the water. 

 They can exist in waterless places, nourishing themselves 



524 



