Mountain Reedbuck 



5 



both sexes. They also present an apparently genuine difference in habits 

 as well as colour from the ordinary form. 1 



These antelope are still fairly numerous in the south-eastern districts 

 of the Cape Colony, in parts of Bechuanaland, Swaziland, and the Transvaal. 

 In the latter State, on the Drakensberg, particularly around the Mauch- 

 berg, and the Blyde and Oliphant River Poorts, they are very numerous. 

 I have nowhere met with them north of the Limpopo River. Thev are 

 partial to rugged, hilly country, though shunning bleak, barren mountain 

 summits. Their favourite spots are amongst the scattered "sugar-bushes" 

 and dry grass on the sunny slopes and in shallow gullies, and in such 

 places they are far more approachable than the rhebuck on the summits. 

 At one time they were numerous amongst the foothills, and on the lower 

 terraces, but such places invariably became inhabited, and those antelope 

 that were not destroyed sought safety at higher elevations. Years ago I 

 have seen them amongst the rocky kopjes on the flats between the Sabi and 

 Krokodile Rivers, and my friend Mr. H. T. Glynn shot one there. They 

 associate either in pairs or small herds of five or six to a dozen in number ; 

 solitary old rams are often met with. They drink regularly once in the 

 day, and are entirely grass-feeders ; their flesh, though more palatable than 

 that of the rhebuck, is decidedly inferior to that of the reedbuck. They 

 much resemble the latter antelope when running, the spread tail and 

 peculiar rocking-horse action when not laying themselves out to run hard 

 being marked characteristics of both. 



Mountain reedbuck shooting is really fine sport — usually it will be 

 obtained in the course of a day's mixed shooting on the hills, when one is 

 also prepared for Vaal rhebuck, oribi, and klipspringer. But it is far more 

 satisfactory to deal with them separately ; and, in order to obtain the 

 greatest success, early rising and some knowledge of their habits are 

 indispensable. Be on the ground by sunrise, on foot trom choice ; take 



1 Proceedings Zoological Society, Nov. 30CI1, 1897. 



