no ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



light as they quarter the bush in quest of some unsus- 

 pecting herd. They ramble along at hounds' pace, 

 each individual with head and tail held low, and in 

 perfect silence ; a silence which, by the way, is never 

 broken throughout the whole course of the hunt. On 

 coming on a fresh "line " there is no increase of pace, 

 but the leaders prick their great round ears and jump 

 at intervals straight up and down to get a view over 

 the top of the grass and low scrub. Now some impala 

 can be seen down an aisle of the bush calmly browsing, 

 and immediately the whole pack spreads out noiselessly, 

 in order as far as possible to encircle it. A ewe raising 

 her head quickly, in an interval of feeding, catches sight 

 of one of the sinister forms stealing from bush to bush ; 

 she snorts loudly, and, in a moment, as by one impulse, 

 the pack dashes in. 



Away in all directions, and in the extremity of terror, 

 dash the antelopes, springing high into the air, and, in 

 the confusion, often impeding one another in their frantic 

 efforts to escape. One or two are instantly seized and 

 pulled down, and the rest of the pursuers, splitting up 

 into small detachments, relentlessly pursue the unfor- 

 tunate individuals which they have singled out. There 

 is seldom any escape ; gifted with marvellous speed for 

 a short distance, and with immense endurance where 

 the chase is long, the Hunting Dog is served when occasion 

 demands as well by his powers of scent as by his muscular 

 limbs, and fortunate indeed is the creature, which, once 

 having formed his quarry, can safely win out. 



The actual method of chase has often been described. 

 The pack lopes along some yards behind the intended 

 victim, each individual in turn spurting up alongside 

 to spring at the flank or quarter, tear away a mouthful 

 of flesh, and then drop back level with his companions. 



