NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



During the daytime the Duiker rests, as a rule, 

 in thick cover, but sometimes lies under a small 

 shrub beneath the shelter of a jutting boulder, 

 or in long grass. It lies in its form as close as a hare, 

 and usually does not break cover until it realises 

 it has been discovered ; whereupon it dashes off 

 at a great pace heading for the nearest cover. Every 

 few strides it springs into the air in order to ascertain 

 the nature of the enemy and his intentions. On 

 gaining the bush after a final spring or two to locate 

 the foe, it disappears or dives into the foliage, and 

 after turning to either right or left, pursues a zig-zag 

 course without a pause until it is satisfied it has 

 baffled the enemy. 



When thoroughly scared, the Duiker travels 

 several miles at a rapid pace. In many localities 

 the scrub grows in large isolated patches, and when 

 hunted out of one patch, it flees to a neighbouring 

 one and conceals itself therein. 



In Natal I frequently startled Duikers from their 

 " form," under isolated bushes, or in long grass in 

 valleys where there was no bushy cover for miles. 

 In these instances the animals made off across the 

 hilly, grass-covered country, and could be watched 

 with a field-glass for a considerable time. 



The Duiker buck is incessantly hunted both by 

 Europeans and natives ; but, because it never pauses 

 like most other antelopes to look round, and by 

 reason of its baffling flight through the bush or 

 long grass, its species is still common. 

 30 



