ANTELOPES. 



305 



with the under-parts and rings round the eyes whitish. The horns seldom 

 exceed 24 inches in length, although they have been recorded of 27^ inches. The 

 lichi is strictly a swamp-dwelling animal ; and, when undisturbed, can be approached 

 very easily. Mr. Selous states that when these antelopes "first make up their 

 minds to run, they stretch out their noses, the males laying their horns flat along 

 their sides, and trot ; but on being pressed they break into a springing gallop, now 

 and then bounding high into the air. Even when in water up to their necks they 

 do not swim, but get along by a succession of bounds, making a tremendous 

 splashing. Of course, when the water becomes too deep for them to bottom they 

 are forced to swim, which they do well and strongly, though not so fast as the 

 natives can paddle ; and when the country is flooded, great numbers are driven 

 into deep water and speared." Generally these animals are to be seen standing 

 knee or belly-deep in the water, lazily cropping the aquatic plants ; or reposing 

 close to the water's edge. Puku are usually met with in herds of from three to 

 twelve in number, although occasionally as many as fifty may be seen together. 

 They are generally found on dry ground close to the edges of the rivers, but when 

 pursued will take readily to the water. Mr. Selous states that puku and lichi are 

 never found together, although the latter may associate with pala. 



THE RHEBOK. 

 Genus Pelea. 



The rhebok, or vaal rhebok (Pelea capreola), is the first representative of the 

 second division of the Cervicaprine group, in which the species are mostly of small 

 size, and characterised by their short and nearly upright horns. Of this subgroup 

 the rhebok, which stands about 30 inches at the withers, is the largest species. 

 The horns are placed wide apart over the eyes, and are sharp, slender, and well 

 ringed, rising nearly vertically with a slight forward bend, but with little 

 divergence. Their cross-section is elliptical; and their length from 5J to 8^ 

 inches. The gland below the eye and the corresponding depression in the skull 

 are wanting. The muzzle is naked ; the tail short, broad, fan-like, and bushy ; 

 and the hair thick and rather woolly. The colour is a light greyish brown, passing 

 into white beneath. 



Habits S an telope is an inhabitant of hilly and mountainous districts 



in Southern and Eastern Africa ; and its habits much resemble those 

 of the chamois. Mr. Drummond states that rhebok " are never found but on the 

 bare hills among rocks and stones, and their habits of springing are wonderful. 

 It seems extraordinary how their delicate limbs escape injury, when they take 

 bound after bound, like an india-rubber ball, in places that a cat would shudder at. 

 I do not suppose that they are really more shy than some of the other antelopes ; 

 but the nature of the ground which they inhabit makes it appear so. That it is 

 hard to get at them no one will deny, and it is equally difficult to drive them, 

 unless, indeed, you happen to know the particular troop, have often seen it, and 

 been accustomed to notice the direction they usually take when disturbed." 

 Rhebok only descend from the mountain-tops and ridges at night for the purpose 



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