n 4 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



there is some amount of cover. The cows and calves keep together, 

 but only one bull accompanies them, as keen rivalry exists between 

 the males; indeed, the bull "may be aggressive to other Antelopes, 

 as it has an unscrupulous habit of turning out Lichtenstein's 

 Hartebeest from beds or lairs which this animal is fond of making 

 for itself." 



The Sable Antelope is a quick traveller, is a dangerous beast 

 at close quarters when hard-pressed, exhibits indomitable courage 

 and makes every use of its horns. Mr. Finn says that like the 

 Gemsbok it fights lying down, and is very dangerous to hounds. 



Mr. Selous, in his Hunter's Wanderings, gives an interesting 

 incident which is worth relating here. He says that one day he 

 and his party "witnessed a very pretty sight, as we were riding 

 across a wide, open down between the Zweswe and Umfule rivers. 

 We had a short time previously noticed a solitary old Sable Antelope 

 bull feeding on the edge of a small strip of bush that intersected 

 the plain. Suddenly this Antelope, which was 600 or 700 yards 

 distant, came running out into the flat straight towards us, on 

 perceiving which we reined in our horses and looked around for 

 the cause of its alarm. This was soon apparent, for before long 

 we saw that an animal was running on its tracks, and though still 

 distant, overhauling it fast, for the Sable Antelope, not being 

 pressed, was not yet doing its best, so that when it was about 

 200 yards from us, its pursuer, which we now saw was a Wild Dog, 

 was not more than fifty yards behind it. The noble-looking 

 Antelope must just then have seen us, for it halted, looked towards 

 us, then turning its head glanced at its insignificant pursuer. That 

 glance, however, at the open-mouthed Dog thirsting for its life- 

 blood must have called up unpleasant reminiscences, for instead 

 of showing fight, as I should have expected it to have done, it threw 

 out its limbs convulsively, and came dashing past us at its utmost 

 speed. It was, however, to no purpose, for the Wild .Dog, lying 

 flat to the ground as a Greyhound, its bushy tail stretched straight 

 behind it, covered two yards to its one, and came up to it in no time. 

 It just gave it one bite in the flanks, and letting go its hold instantly, 

 fell a few yards behind; at the bite the Sable Antelope swerved 

 towards us, and upon receiving a second, in exactly the same place, 

 turned still more, so that taking the point on which we stood for 

 a centre, both pursuer and pursued had described about a half-circle 

 round us, always within 200 yards, since the Sable Antelope had 



