THE D UYKER- B OK. 



527 



height of twelve or thirteen feet. When leaping, the back is greatly curved, and the creature 

 presents a very curious aspect, owing to the sudden exhibition of the long white hairs that 

 cover the croup, and are nearly hidden by a fold of skin when the creature is at rest, but 

 which come boldly into view as soon as the protecting skin-fold is obliterated by the tension 

 of the muscles that serve to propel the animal in its aerial course. 



The Spring-bok is a marvellously timid animal, and will never cross a road if it can avoid 

 the necessity. "When it is forced to do so, it often compromises the difficulty by leaping over 

 the spot which has been tainted by the foot of man. The color of the Spring-bok is very 

 pleasing, the ground tinting being a warm cinnamon-brown upon the upper surface of the 

 body, and pure white upon the abdomen, the 

 two colors being separated from each other by 

 a broad band of reddish-brown. The flesh of 

 the Spring-bok is held in some estimation, 

 and the hide is in great request for many use- 

 ful purposes. 



A very curious species of Antelopes is 

 that which is scientifically known by the 

 name of Tetrdcerus quadricornus, both words 

 bearing the same signification, viz. "four- 

 horned." These singular animals are natives 

 of India, where they are known under the 

 titles of Chousingha, or Chouka, the last 

 word being derived from the native term 

 chouk, a leap, which has been given to the ani- 

 mal in allusion to its habit of making lofty 

 bounds. 



The front pair of horns are very short, 

 and are placed just above the eyes, the hinder 

 pair being much longer, and occupying the 

 usual position on the head. The females are 

 hornless. The color of the Chousingha is a 

 bright bay above and gray- white below, a few 



sandy hairs being intermixed with the white. 

 The length of the hinder pair of horns is 

 rather more than three inches, while the front, 

 or spurious horns as they are sometimes 

 termed, are only three-quarters of an inch long, 

 twenty inches. 





CHOUSINGHA, OR CHOUKA. - Tetrwxrus quadricornis. 



The 



height 



of the adult animal is about 



The Duyker-Bok, or Impoon, has derived its name of Duyker, or Diver, from its habit 

 of diving suddenly, when alarmed, into the heavy brushwood among which it lives, and of 

 disappearing from the sight of the hunter. For the following valuable account of the animal 

 I am again indebted to Captain Drayson's MS. notes on the fauna of Southern Africa, which 

 he has kindly placed at my disposal. 



"On the borders of the bush, the Antelope which is most commonly met is the Duyker, a 

 solitary and very cunning animal. 



' ' If the sportsman should happen to overtake this buck, it will lie still, watching him 

 attentively, and will not move until it is aware that it is observed. It will then jump up 

 and start off, making a series of sharp turns and dives, sometimes over bushes, and at 

 others through them. When it conceives that it is observed, it will crouch in the long grass 

 or behind a bush, as though it were going to lie down. This conduct is, however, nothing 

 but a ruse for the purpose of concealing its retreat, as it will then crawl along under the 

 foliage for several yards, and when it has gone to some distance in this sly manner, will again 



