THE NAEBADA VALLEY. 65 



day. Should you disturb them at this time, they will most 

 likely seek their cover at top speed ; and what that amounts 

 to will amaze you if you let slip a greyhound at them. 

 Chikdrd have not yet learned the range of the modern 

 " Express " rifle ; and consequently they still often let one 

 get almost within the killing distance of the old weapon, 

 and are easily knocked over with the " Express." The depth 

 of their slender bodies is so small, that a bullet must be 

 planted in a space little wider than a handVbreadth to make 

 sure of stopping them. Shots are generally got at a distance 

 of from 100 to 150 yards; and the difficulty of such fine 

 shooting at uncertain distances, together with their peculiar 

 " dodginess " in keeping out of sight, makes the stalking of 

 them a more difficult, and I think more interesting, sport than 

 the pursuit of the larger antelope. Their art has little variety 

 in it however ; and there is something to .the experienced eye 

 in the features of the ground which will almost infallibly tell 

 whereabouts one is likely to have stopped after his first dis- 

 appearance. Unless they have been seen to go clean away, 

 they should always be followed up on the chance of being 

 found again. 



The last of the antelopes met with in the open country is 

 the Mlgae* the male of which, called a " blue bull," wall 

 stand about 13-J- hands high at the shoulder. The female is a 

 good deal smaller, and of a fawn colour. Their habitat is on 

 the lower hills that border and intersect the plains, and also 

 on the plains themselves wherever grass and bushes afford 

 sufficient cover. The old sites of deserted villages and culti- 

 vation, unfortunately so common, which are usually covered 

 with long grass and a low bushy growth of Palas and Jujube 

 trees, are seldom without a herd of nilgae. They are neverf 



* Portax picttis. t Butea frondosa, Zizyphns Jujuba. 



