ANTELOPES 93 



around in the intervals of feeding ; anon an electric 

 current seems to run through the whole troop : a ewe 

 has started at some imaginary danger, and instantly 

 every other individual thrills in sympathy ; every bright 

 eye remains fixed ; every delicate ear inclined towards 

 the suspected quarter : a moment of suspense, and the 

 whole herd settle down again as if nothing had occurred 

 to cause temporary alarm. 



Sometimes, during the heat of the day, a herd may be 

 seen resting under the shade of some large tree by the 

 river-bank. They stand about whisking their tails and 

 biting at the flies. Suddenly the spirit of movement 

 seizes upon them, and the rams rush round in circles 

 playfully pursuing one another, their tails elevated or 

 even curled over their backs, so that they present, to 

 some extent, the appearance of reedbuck. The moie 

 sober ewes stand gravely by ; life seems always to them 

 a serious matter, and their constant watchfulness leaves 

 no room for frivolity. 



This vigilance of impalas is especially noticeable when 

 they are drinking. During the dry months, especially 

 towards the end of the winter, the herds congregate in 

 the neighbourhood of such streams as are still flowing, 

 satisfying their thirst some three times a day, and never 

 moving far away from the banks in the intervals of 

 drinking. It is no difficult matter for us to conceal 

 ourselves in such a manner, and with such regard for the 

 prevailing breeze, as to be able to study the watering 

 of the herd at very close quarters. We then realize 

 forcibly the dangers which constantly threaten the wild 

 denizens of the bush, and how their existence must be 

 conditional upon their watch ulness. 



We have strolled down to the river about 9 A.M. There 

 is so far no sign of life. The winter sun has not yet 



