H2 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



making off, every four or five strides are terminated by a 

 bound into the air, and on reaching covert he dives 

 beneath and through the undergrowth, turning sharply 

 at right angles the moment he is out of sight, or believes 

 himself to be so, and continuing this zig-zag course 

 through the bush until he is confident that he is in safety. 

 He never pauses to look round, as do so many antelopes 

 after having gone a little distance, and this, no doubt, 

 is one of the reasons why he has managed to exist for so 

 long in the close vicinity of civilized man. 



While resting during the heat of the day the duiker 

 lies down under a bush or in long grass, and on the ap- 

 proach of danger remains perfectly still until he fancies 

 himself discovered, when he at once springs up and 

 bounds away. When accustomed to be left alone, 

 however, these animals show great confidence, and I have 

 often passed close to individuals which rose up from 

 concealment when I came near, stood looking at me till 

 I had passed, and then quietly lay down again. In 

 captivity they become extremely tame, and seldom show 

 fear even of strange dogs, which, discomfited by the air 

 of unconcern with which they are met, generally slink 

 sadly away. A duiker ewe, which was the property of 

 some of the troops stationed there during the war, used 

 to roam all over the village of Komati Poort, quite un- 

 protected, performing a round of calls on all the houses 

 where she was accustomed to receive titbits. Another 

 animal, brought up by one of the rangers, after having 

 reached maturity, was accustomed to sally forth into the 

 forest to seek adventures, but always was careful to 

 return at meal-times, and when frightened or chased by 

 any predatory beast invariably made for the camp. The 

 " call of the wild " at length, however, proved too much 

 for him. His periods in the bush extended and his 



