ANTELOPES 149 



South- West Africa. In the eastern Transvaal it is the 

 most numerous of all the larger antelopes, and attains 

 there a considerable size, both in bodily bulk and in length 

 of horn. Towards the limit of its northern range, the 

 trophies carried by the males are very much smaller ; 

 there being in this respect a remarkable agreement with 

 the sable antelope. 



Waterbuck favour the neighbourhood of the element 

 whence they derive their name, and are seldom found 

 very far from the banks of large rivers, or from permanent 

 water of some sort. They are partial to rough and broken 

 country, stony hill-sides, and the vicinity of fairly thick 

 bush, and are not found on the high open plateaux, 

 When single animals are pursued, and find they cannot 

 otherwise escape, they take to the water ; I have seen 

 individuals chased by wild dogs swim right across deep 

 rivers ; but their usual custom is to come to bay in 

 a pool, where they stand with little but the head and 

 neck protruding. In this position their enemies can 

 approach by swimming only, giving the antelope a con- 

 siderable superiority, of which he takes full advantage 

 by striking with his horns and fore feet. When thus 

 " held up " by domestic dogs, the animal's whole atten- 

 tion is often so concentrated on keeping them off, that it 

 is possible to approach quite close to him. 



Unlike most antelopes, which, when drinking, stand 

 rather back from the water, waterbuck go right in, often 

 above the knees, and take a considerable time over the 

 process of satisfying their thirst. They generally drink 

 from about dawn to a little after sunrise, and again rather 

 late in the afternoon ; in addition, they may possibly 

 seek the water at some time during the night, and in 

 hot dry weather, about midday. Opposite my station 

 at Sabi Bridge I once saw a waterbuck bull walk quietly 



