g8 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



recollecting or noticing in time the intervening net, dash 

 round one corner or the other of it, but the majority see 

 it too late for evasion, and leap for safety. 



And what a sight it is ! The net has a maximum 

 height of twelve feet when drawn tight, and seldom sags 

 down at its lowest below ten ; it is held in place by stout 

 poles, which aie so firmly planted in the earth as to 

 negative all chance of bearing down the obstacle, while 

 it has just enough " give " in it to ensure its not being 

 easily torn or broken. An old ewe is the first to reach 

 the dangerous spot. She dwells in her stride just the 

 slightest shade there is no such thing as a pause or a 

 " prop " then rises gracefully, and sails clean over the 

 whole thing in beautiful curve, alighting on the farther 

 side light as a feather. While she is still in the air, 

 fifteen or twenty of her companions take the fence 

 simultaneously ; close behind come others, jumping at 

 all angles, taking off, some nearer and some farther from 

 the net ; but all displaying the most perfect grace of 

 movement, and affording one of the most fascinating 

 pictures it is possible to conceive. 



All are over. No ! one ewe, apparently shut in by 

 her companions, jumps short, and in a moment is kicking 

 and struggling in the meshes of the net. Demoralized 

 by the sight, a second one, coming just behind, tries, too 

 late, to stop and turn, but carried on by her own impetus 

 shares the fate of the first. Last of all comes a very 

 young ram, one of the last year's lambs ; his horns yet 

 showing no tendency to curve. He has perhaps been 

 standing a little apart from the others, and is rushing 

 madly to catch them up. With the blind impetuosity 

 of youth he either does not see or totally disregards the 

 frail-looking obstacle in front of him ; at all events he 

 never attempts to rise, but dashes straight into it. The 



