The Blesbok 183 



species. The calves are dropped in September and October, and, as with 

 most other African antelopes, gain strength so rapidly that, when a week 

 old, they cannot be run down by an ordinary shooting horse. Bontebok, 

 which no doubt once congregated in large droves, may now be seen on the 

 enclosed farms, near Cape Agulhas, in small herds of from half a dozen to 

 twenty or thirty individuals. Though not very wild, they will not allow 

 one to approach on foot to within 300 yards of them, though they will 

 often permit a cart and horses to be driven much nearer before taking alarm. 

 They seem to know that no danger is to be apprehended from outside the 

 fence, for I saw three stand and calmly watch a cart which was being 

 driven along the road outside the fence within 100 yards of them. When 

 alarmed they run against the wind with great speed and endurance, and 

 when pressed lie flat to the ground, with their heads held so low that 

 their noses appear to almost touch the earth. p q Selous 



The Blesbok (Dama/iscus albifrons) 



Blesbok of the Cape Dutch ; Noni of the Bechuanas and Basutos ; 

 Inoni of the Kaffirs 



This remarkable antelope stands, in well-grown specimens, from 3 feet 

 4 inches to 3 feet 6 inches at the shoulder, and measures about 6 feet in 

 length. The body is strongly built, the withers, as in the bontebok and 

 hartebeest, are elevated and somewhat humpish ; the head is long and 

 narrow, surmounted by strong, but not heavy horns of elegant shape, which 

 are divergent, strongly annulated, slightly lyrate, and in good specimens 

 average 15 or 16 inches in extreme length. The largest pair of blesbok 

 horns yet recorded (see Rowland Ward's Records of Big Game) measure 18^ 

 inches over the curve, i2 : | inches between the tips, and 5! inches round 

 the base ; but this example, in the possession of Sir Edmund Loder, is 

 of quite exceptional proportions. 



