252 Great and Small Game of Africa 



The steinbuck is distributed widely over the whole of South Africa, 

 from the Cape to the Zambesi, though in the south-eastern portions of 

 the Cape Colony its place is taken by the grysbuck. It is not found, 

 however, in mountainous districts or in dense forest belts, being partial 

 to open flats, rolling grassy downs, and thin forest. In Portuguese East 

 Africa I found them fairly numerous along the Pungwe River, and on 

 the flats below Gorongoza, west of the Urema River ; but, singularly 

 enough, on the vast Urema plains, to the east of that river and north of 

 the Mwaredsi, I did not meet with a single specimen. Neither did I 

 see any in the Mozambique province — if any are eventually discovered 

 there, they will probably be referable to R. sharpei of Nyasaland. Like 

 the grysbuck, they would appear to be quite independent of water, but 

 if water is anywhere near they will drink. It is somewhat difficult to 

 know how they thus subsist without it, seeing that they are grass-feeders ; 

 if leaves formed portion of their diet they might supply the want by 

 eating those of a watery, succulent nature. Steinbuck lie very closely in 

 cover, or even in the open, usually stretching their necks out in front of 

 them on the ground, but they spring to their feet with wonderful rapidity 

 when they decide upon flight. They often scratch up the ground with 

 their hoofs, particularly near the spots where they deposit their droppings, 

 but as this is also done in other places, it is possible they may occasionally 

 eat small succulent roots and bulbs. I cannot recollect ever seeing a lately- 

 born steinbuck fawn, but as the spring is the rutting season, there is no doubt 

 the fawns, like those of most antelopes, are born about Christmas time. 



In parts of Bechuanaland and the Cape Colony steinbuck are regularly 

 hunted with foxhounds, or coursed with greyhounds, and, having plenty 

 of pace and staying power, they give very good sport. In the low country, 

 early morning is the best time for shooting them. When alarmed on 

 their feeding-grounds, they seldom run far before standing, but if they 

 show no inclination to do so, a sharp whistle will often bring them up 



