104 , THE ANTELOPE. 



they appear like horns, while the horns themselves appear as 

 if coming out of the animal's eyes ; they are long and slender, 

 curving slightly backwards, and have no branches, except a 

 little bud, which is developed when the creature is about two 

 years old. The chief peculiarity of the animal is its lack of 

 a dewlap. 



The feet have no rudimentary hoofs like the deer, yet this 

 want in no way interferes with its speed. Often the creature 

 may be seen for a moment browsing not fifty yards off', the 

 next it has dwindled to a mere speck, and is in another lost 

 to sight. They do not leap like deer, but run with level 

 backs, as sheep do, their legs glancing faster than sight can 

 follow. In vain the hunter attempts to follow the rapid 

 movements of the creatures on horseback. Perhaps they will 

 let him approach to within a short distance, and then away 

 they float on a line at right-angles to their former retreat. 

 To come up with them, indeed, as an American writer observes, 

 is as hopeful an undertaking as trying to run down a tele- 

 graphic message. The only way to get near them is by a 

 stratagem. They are not afraid of horses, and the hunter, by 

 walking behind his horse, may often approach a herd without 

 being discovered, provided the wind blows from them. He 

 then pickets his horse with a sharp stake, and sinking down 

 in the grass he ties a bright-coloured handkerchief to the end 

 of his ramrod ; he then crawls forward on hands and knees, 

 dragging his rifle, till he approaches still nearer, when he 

 remains concealed, and lifts his flag in the air. The antelopes, 

 on catching sight of it, stop browsing, and raising their heads, 

 peer towards it, exhibiting no signs of fear. For a moment 

 he drops his flag ; the beautiful creatures then resume their 

 repast, but their curiosity gets the better of their prudence. 



