2 ANTELOPE SHOOTING. 



The colour of the males (black buck) is a rich dark 

 glossy brown (almost black in the old ones) above, the lower 

 parts, abdomen, and inner parts of the legs, white — head, nape 

 and back of the head a rufous yellow, nose and lips white 

 and a large white ring round the eyes. The females are a 

 pale yellowish fawn colour above, with a pale lateral streak 

 from shoulders to haunch, and white beneath. 



The height at the shoulder of the male is about thirty- 

 two inches ; length about four feet, not including the tail 

 which is about seven inches. The horns vary considerably, 

 from twenty to twenty-seven inches. In some very rare 

 instances females have been found with horns, but as a rule 

 they are hornless. 



The second species is the Ravine antelope, Indian 

 gazelle, or Chikara (Gazella bennetti), frequenting, as its 

 name implies, the ravines and rocky hills. It is a little 

 larger than the Egyptian gazelle, of a light chestnut colour, 

 with the chin neck and breast white, both male and female 

 have horns ; the latter very much smaller than the male 

 and not ringed. I used to enjoy prowling after them at 

 early dawn ; the ground was stony and noisy in many 

 places so that it was difficult to get near the wary little 

 beauties without the most careful stalking. This antelope is 

 said never to drink. 



When I first commenced rifle shooting I was much too 

 eager, and used to fire very long shots, often at from five to 

 six hundred yards, and as might be expected, generally 

 missed ; and in consequence I had to stand a considerable 

 amount of chaff. I remember one day, being out with two 

 of my brother officers, I took a very long shot, far too long, 

 at a black buck. I distinctly heard the flop of the ball 



