ANTELOPES 69 



a trap, overhanging some game path, a not uncommon 

 native device. 



A charging buffalo sticks his nose straight out, so that 

 the sweep of the horns covers his shoulders and there is 

 very little chance of an instantaneously vital shot, the 

 only one that will stop him when he means business. 

 He keeps his eyes open watching his enemy, and lowers 

 his head only at the very last moment. Buffaloes are 

 seldom found at any great distance from water, and 

 drink twice within twenty-four hours, usually after dark 

 and again about sunrise. They feed during the night, 

 and spend the hot hours of the day lying down in fairly 

 shady places, the whole herd concentrated in a com- 

 paratively small space. The most characteristic sound 

 of the animal is a rumbling grunt ; but when dying, a 

 moaning bellow, two or three times repeated, is uttered, 

 and calves seem to bleat upon occasions in the manner 

 common to those of domestic cattle. 



CHAPTER IX 



ANTELOPES 



Sable : Roan : Gemsbuck : The Beisa : Oryxes : 

 The Addax 



THE SABLE. If the sable antelope must take second 

 place to the kudu in grace and beauty, there is still a 

 fearlessness and pride in his bearing lacked by the latter, 

 and his magnificent scimitar-like horns, together with the 

 brilliant contrasts of rich brown, black and pure white in 

 the coat, render him, in the opinion of many, a close rival. 

 At the present time the sable is found in the northern 

 Transvaal bush country from west to east, being very 

 numerous in the Game Reserve, but not existing south 



