The Reedbuck 307 



in districts that have become populated. They are still plentiful in 

 Amatongaland, Gazaland, in Portuguese East Africa, along the Zambesi 

 and Chobi Rivers, and in Ngamiland. Wherever I have met with reed- 

 buck in the Mozambique province, in Southern Nyasaland, and Portuguese 

 Zambesia it has always appeared to me a far lighter built animal, with a 

 maximum weight of no lbs. to 120 lbs. Reedbuck are chiefly found in 

 open rolling grass country on the mountain plateaux, where water is 

 abundant, and in reedy valleys and thin open forest throughout the "low 

 country," but never far from water. As their name implies, they are 

 partial to dense reed-beds, but quite as frequently lie up in long grass cover 

 on the high ridges, or in cool spots in thin forest ; they invariably lie in 

 dry places, even if near to water. They often lie very closely, and when 

 disturbed rush out with great speed, seldom or never whistling, but going 

 off at once with long easy bounds, presenting each flank alternately to the 

 sportsman, and thus offering a none too easy shot. But if disturbed at a 

 little distance, they whistle sharply and go off very deliberately, raising 

 and lowering their "flags" in a characteristic manner, and usually standing 

 at about 120 to 150 yards to look back at the cause of their alarm, then, 

 whistling again, they once more bound off, frequently repeating these 

 manoeuvres if not fired at. The ewes are less inclined to stand than the 

 rams, and can run with great speed and endurance. At night they often 

 play around a camp for hours, whistling constantly. Though not strictly 

 gregarious, little family parties of four or five are not infrequently seen, 

 but they usually associate in pairs ; I have seen ten or twelve feeding 

 together on a patch of green sprouting grass. They are solely grass-feeders, 

 and their flesh is second in flavour only to that of the bushbuck ; many 

 indeed consider it superior to that of all other small game. It has been 

 said that these antelopes are shy and retiring, but in my experience I have 

 found the very reverse to be the case, the surest places in which to look 

 for them being the patches of cover in the vicinity of native kraals, especi- 



