ANTELOPES 113 



visits to camp became shorter, until at length he ceased 

 to come altogether, having doubtless discovered a partner 

 who did not share his confidence in mankind's protection. 



Duikers are mainly browsers, and nibble the leaves 

 and young shoots of various acacias, and small bush 

 shrubs, as well as the various bush fruits and bean pods. 

 Grass is consumed also, especially when young and fresh, 

 but I do not think to the extent that is generally believed, 

 as, when apparently grazing, duikers have been some- 

 times found actually to have been cropping little weeds 

 and tiny sprigs of bush growing in the grass, and the 

 tame ones I have kept at various times always preferred 

 browsing, at least when not consuming paper, tobacco, 

 and other like delicacies. Where water is plentiful they 

 drink fairly often, perhaps daily, but seem, when the 

 necessity arises, to be very well able to do without it 

 altogether. They are deadly enemies to young growing 

 crops, and are very clever at jumping over and crouching 

 under the protecting fences. Of course these depre- 

 dations take place at night, and are consequently difficult 

 to guard against. . 



THE RED DUIKER. This species, which is much smaller 

 than the last, is further easily distinguished by its foxy- 

 red colour, and the fact of both sexes possessing horns. 

 Like the common duiker, it is solitary in habit, and it 

 creeps about in the densest kind of bush, seldom emerging 

 except at night. It is a browser still more than the 

 other, in fact it is probable that leaves and shoots, 

 together with berries and roots, form practically all its 

 diet. It is a regular drinker, and is seldom found far from 

 water. Dense forest and bush, thickly wooded ravines 

 and stream banks are its favourite haunts. Red duikers 

 are generally found associated in pairs, and the cry or 

 alarm note is a compromise between a whistle and a sniff. 



