The Western Sing-Sing 279 



mover, it is possible that the young are the especial prey of the lion and 

 the hyasna, and that the increased wariness of the female is due to the 

 knowledge that they stand less chance of saving themselves by speed. 



But at the best of times the sing-sing is very shy and suspicious, 

 and when alarmed rarely gives way to the antelopean curiosity which 

 so often proves fatal. Only once have I known the bull stop to 

 ascertain the cause of the alarm, and from the way in which he stood 

 broadside on, gazing intently in a direction at right angles to that from 

 which I — the cause of the alarm — was approaching, I judged that whilst 

 quick in hearing, they possess even less power than the average antelope in 

 locating the direction of sounds. 



To stalk a party of sing-sing, even with all the advantages which the 

 ground they frequent gives, is a most difficult business, they are so keenly 

 watchful of everything. I have seen them start away for apparently no 

 reason whatever, though it is always open to question whether the wind 

 in those rocky hills and gullies does not at times play the most absurd 

 pranks, and give notice of the observer's presence, even when he is directly 

 down wind from the animals. I have never, in West Africa, felt so keenly 

 the sharp contest of man's intelligence and reason against the keen wits 

 and suspicions of an antelope, as in the planning and carrying out of a half- 

 mile stalk of a sing-sing family. 



On the other hand, it is much more of a certainty that the sportsman 

 will come up with them if he follows on the fresh tracks of a party of 

 sing-sing, than it is in the case of hartebeest or roan or kob. They do 

 not wander much when feeding. Their chief object appears to be to make 

 certain of their feeding-ground as a safe place, and then they remain in or 

 about it for the morning or even the whole day. Thus fresh tracks may 

 be followed up carefully and cautiously, and very silently must the hunter 

 move, or he may easily give himself away, and may never see the beasts he 

 is tracking. These animals are also difficult to discern, even when they are 



