NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Even on land a wounded Waterbuck should be 

 approached cautiously, for it is apt to charge fiercely 

 and kill or wound its aggressors. 



Sometimes when wounded the Waterbuck plunges 

 into the dense thickets of reeds which are so common 

 in the vicinity of African Rivers, and stands immov- 

 able, hoping thus to elude its pursuers. 



The larger carnivorous animals such as the 

 Leopard, Chita and Cape Hunting Dog prey upon 

 the females, calves and immature males, but seldom 

 venture to attack an adult bull Waterbuck. 



The Lion is the natural enemy of these powerful 

 horned bulls, which, in spite of their great strength, 

 are no match for this formidable cat. 



When females or calves are attacked by a Leopard, 

 Chita, or Wild Dog, the bull Waterbuck will often 

 come to the rescue and drive them off. 



The calves are born during the summer season, 

 viz. from October to February. 



The Waterbuck is a grass feeder. 



The flesh is coarse in grain and is condemned by 

 hunters and others as being dry, tasteless and most 

 unpalatable. On the contrary, Major Stevenson- 

 Hamilton declares in his Animal Life in Africa that 

 when the flesh is hung for the correct period and 

 properly cooked it is as good as the venison of most 

 other antelopes. He points out that when cooked 

 fresh by native " cooks," as is usually the case, it is 

 naturally spoiled, and is most uninviting owing to the 

 nature of the meat, which requires special treatment. 

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