With Flashlight and Rifle 



J> 



depths of the ant-hill, and therein, owing to the extraordi- 

 nary solidity of ant-architecture, is lost tor ever to the 

 hunter. 



As I expected, crowds ot the bigger mammals are 

 now visible \vhich in the daytime keep tar away from 

 the water. In the hilly country we come from time to- 

 time upon grassy prairies, very different trom the arid 

 velt. Little herds of Grant's gazelles (Gazella granti], 

 are to be met with. They show themselves confiding, 

 go slowly in front of us, and, once put to flight, 

 cut most characteristic capers, for ever changing in 

 direction. But this apparently aimless beginning brings 

 them soon, in a wide half-circle, below our wind, and I 

 take this behaviour therefore to be a manoeuvre peculiar 

 to themselves and carefully planned out by them. 



When a herd ot these Grant's gazelles move on ahead 

 of us, the bucks are wont to bring up the rear, with 

 stiffly-held heads and very dignified steps. Their heavy, 

 wide-spreading horns, upon their extraordinarily strong, 

 short necks, give them a sort of dignity. The females 

 of this species are more than usually cautious and timid. 

 So far as I can see, they have young ones with them 

 all the year through. These young ones are suckled by 

 the mother, hidden in the long grass ; but when the herd 

 takes to flight the young ones accompany their elders. 



In one of the deeper-lying parts of the velt we now 

 find a herd of big tawny antelopes. They are harte- 

 beests (Bubalis cokei) \hat remarkable, overgrown, ugly 

 type which surpasses even the gnu in vitality and insensi- 

 bility to gunshot wounds. 



578 



