NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



I have frequently observed animals which are 

 usually purely nocturnal in their habits, come out 

 of their retreats and move about during wet and 

 cloudy weather. 



In situations where these antelopes are not 

 persecuted by man, they often lie under the shade 

 of a bush or large tree where the atmosphere is 

 cooler than in the midst of dense scrub. 



All hunters agree that the colour of their bodies 

 harmonises perfectly with the red-brown leaves 

 which strew the ground, and amidst which they 

 lie. A native pointed out the spot on which 

 one of these little antelopes was lying under a 

 bush, and although the distance was only about 

 sixty feet, I failed to observe its form. They 

 lie very closely, and spring up and make off 

 only when they realise they cannot hope to escape 

 observation by lying still. However, if alarmed 

 when feeding they instantly vanish into the dense 

 undergrowth. 



They have three distinct cries, one of these is a 

 clear, sharp, barking note somewhat like that of a 

 Bushbuck, but not so strong and loud. This cry is 

 usually uttered when they hear or scent anything 

 suspicious at a distance. 



When suddenly startled from cover, the cry is 

 usually a sharp whistling snort ; and during the 

 mating period the males emit a loud bubbling noise 

 like that of a goat ram. 



The fawns are born from about the middle of 

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