264 



IN AFRICA 



attempt to screen the male and shield him from 

 harm. 



The reedbuck never travels in large numbers, 

 seldom more than two or three, or at most, five or 

 six, being bunched together. 



We had most of our reedbuck experiences while 

 driving swamps for lions. On these occasions many 

 reedbuck would be driven out of the cover of the 



They Watched While the Buck Ran Away 



reeds and rushes, and go crashing up the slopes 

 leading away from the swamp. On one occasion 

 a reedbuck lay so close that it did not stir until 

 one of the beaters was almost upon it, when it 

 sprang up, nearly knocking him over, and escaped 

 behind the skirmish line of beaters. At other times, 

 after the skirmish line apparently had traversed 

 every foot of a swamp, reedbuck would spring up 

 after the line had passed, thus illustrating how close 



