FLAT GAME AND SMALL GAME. 95 



the dog did not seem to understand it at first. He 

 looked up at me with a sort of wondering expression, 

 but on my repeating the order, he cantered after the 

 fawn and put both his paws upon it and lay there with- 

 out otherwise hurting it. Now, I had fully expected 

 that I should have to use threatening language to 

 prevent him killing it. 



The spring-buck is a very beautiful little creature. He 

 is very fast, nor do I think there is a greyhound in 

 existence that can run into a healthy unwounded spring- 

 buck. 



I have seen them, when pursued by a greyhound, 

 suddenly pull up and turn round to look at him as 

 though to say : " What funny creature is this trying to 

 run after me?" And then when the dog nears them, 

 suddenly spring away, and in a few bounds, as the saying 

 goes, leave the dog standing. 



The spring-buck sometimes begins jumping, and erect- 

 ing the mane or frill of hair along his spine, in a 

 way that produces a peculiar effect. 



They are more approachable in the evenings than 

 during the daytime, for they get on the feed then and 

 take less notice of the sportsman. They make fine 

 practice for the rifle. 



There are particular times when game will allow them- 

 selves to be approached more readily than at others. 

 When the game are on the feed at sundown, if you get 

 between them and the setting sun they will let you walk 

 up to within a couple of hundred yards. They seem to 

 be dazzled, and cannot make out what you are. There 

 is an element of curiosity in all of the deer and antelope 

 tribes which leads them to wait and see what you are 

 like before they run off. When stalking the nobler 



