6 A NATURALIST IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



how a species may disappear*. In South Africa more 

 than one species of Buck and Antelope is rapidly ap- 

 proaching the same fate ; and if it would be exaggera- 

 tion to say the days, we may safely affirm that the years 

 of the African Lion are numbered. 



There are now five routes for reaching the Transvaal 

 from South Africa. The first is from Cape Town direct : 



miles. 



Cape Town to Kimberley (rail) . . . .647 

 {'Kimberley to Fourteen Streams (coach) . 47 

 Fourteen Streams to Klerksdorp ,, .110 

 Klerksdorp to Potchefstroom .31 



Potchefstroom to Johannesburg . 80 



Total miles . . 915 



This is the quickest and favourite passenger route 

 from England, and with it we may describe what is 

 usually a heavy-goods route, and by way of Port 

 Elizabeth : 



miles. ^ 



Port Elizabeth to Kimberley (rail) . . . 485 

 Coach journey as detailed in Cape route . 268 



Total miles . . 753 



The next route via Bloemfontein from Port Elizabeth, 

 recently opened, is now being pushed to the Vaal River 

 to meet the connection from Johannesburg ; but before 

 this can be done nearly a dozen either large rivers or 

 spruits J have to be bridged over : 



miles. 



Port Elizabeth to Colesberg (rail) ... 305 

 Colesberg to Norval's Pont (Orange River) 23 

 Norval's Pont to Bloemfontein (rail) . .121 

 Bloemfontein to Johannesburg (coach) . 250 



Total miles . .699 



* In < Nature,' vol. xlii. p. 520, Dr. Sclater has written on this matter and 

 figured both the heads of R. simus and the common species R. bicornis. 



t The rail now extends to Vryburg, by which the amount of coach- 

 travelling is diminished. 



J A " spruit " is a small stream or rivulet. 



