NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



rains ; but their chief diet consists of the pods and 

 leaves of different species of acacia trees, and the 

 shoots, leaves and fruits of various other trees and 

 plants are eaten. 



During the summer season the rams are fat and 

 sleek, but the ewes are lean, owing to the drain on 

 their systems in suckling their lambs. In the winter 

 season, however, the ewes grow fat, and the rams 

 usually get into poor condition. 



During the mating season, which in South-East 

 Africa is from the middle of April to the middle of 

 May, the rams are very noisy, making the bush 

 resound day and night with a deep, guttural bark or 

 grunt. 



A curious fact is that during this time the rams 

 are very watchful and alert, while the ewes are the 

 reverse, and at all other times the conditions are 

 reversed. 



The lambs are born during November and 

 December. One is usually produced at a birth, 

 and twins on rare occasions. The lambs begin to 

 frisk and play within three hours of birth, and their 

 growth is very rapid. In the Transvaal Game 

 Reserves under the able charge of Major J. Stevenson- 

 Hamilton, whose contributions to a knowledge of 

 African animal life is so well-known, the Impala 

 are increasing rapidly in numbers, and there is now 

 no danger of this beautiful bush antelope becoming 

 extinct. 



The Impala is known as the " Springbok of the 

 88 



