SOME NATURAL HISTORY 



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rambling on the high plains near Mount Elgon I 

 think I saw several hundred head of topi, always 

 shy and quick to take alarm. 



The meat is the most delicious of any of the 

 large antelopes, and the skin, when properly cared 

 for, is as soft as kid and as brilliant as watered silk. 

 The head is a fine trophy on account of its rich color- 

 ing rather than because of its 

 horns, which are not particu- 

 larly graceful in curve or pro- 

 portion, but which are wonder- 

 fully ridged. 



I am sure that if I were a 

 beautiful topi with a skin like 

 watered silk I should be deeply 

 humiliated to be mistaken for 

 a singing sun hat. 



The topi's nearest relations 

 are the sasseby, the tiang, and 

 the korrigum. And now you 

 know all about the topi. The 

 game ordinance allows the 

 sportsman to kill two topi, and the holder of a 

 license will work hard to get his two, for they are 

 splendid trophies. 



The duiker is another little antelope that one 

 meets frequently in the grassy places of East 

 Africa. It is small, with dark complexion, and 

 goes through the high grass in a way that 

 strongly suggests the diving of a porpoise at sea. 

 In fact, it gets its Dutch name for that reason, 



Topi 



