236 Great and Small Game of Africa 



These antelopes are widely distributed throughout South Africa, and up 

 the east coast as far north through the Mozambique province as I have 

 travelled (to the Chingwari range); they are also plentiful in Portuguese 

 Northern Zambesia. In the Cape Colony they are far less numerous than 

 formerly, but throughout Swaziland, the Transvaal, Mashonaland, Matabele- 

 land, and Bechuanaland are still plentiful. They are by no means confined to 

 the impossible krantzes of mountain ranges, but are found throughout 

 the " low country " amongst stony bush-covered kopjes, rising from the 

 flats. It is worth noting that upon several occasions I have found them 

 many miles from any hills, ranging amongst the piled-up boulders of river- 

 beds. They are quite common along the Mehlamhali River of the Eastern 

 Transvaal. When disturbed they merely run up or down the river amongst 

 the stones. Klipspringers seldom lie high up on the kopjes during the 

 day, but invariably seek the cool shade of the bush below, or of some deep 

 kloof, and when disturbed dart off up the hillside. They are grass-feeders, 

 and their flesh is most excellent. They associate in pairs, though several 

 may be seen moving about at once on a hillside. The only klipspringer 

 fawn I ever saw was in the month of August, the little creature being 

 scarcely a month old and pale yellow in colour. I think, however, that, 

 in common with most antelopes, the young are usually born between 

 September and January, when the new grass comes on. 



In certain localities the pursuit of the klipspringer is a somewhat 

 arduous undertaking, particularly on high mountain ranges and amongst 

 steep krantzes. They are wary, but still not difficult to shoot, as they often 

 stand several times after being disturbed. In the " low country," when put 

 out of a patch of bush, they at once run up the nearest kopje, and usually 

 stand on the first large boulder, thus offering an easy shot. A sharp whistle 

 will often cause them to pull up, even when flying at full speed up the 

 hillside. Dogs that know their work soon bay them, driving them higher 

 and higher, till the buck reaches the highest pinnacle, and the dogs stand 



