Great and Small Game of Africa 



The Springbuck {Antidorcas euchore) 

 Springbok of thk Cape Dutch ; Tsipe of the Bechuanas ; Eetsaypee 



OF THE MAKA1AKAS 



The springbuck is still one of the most abundant, as it is the best known, 

 of all animals in South Africa ; and although its numbers have vastly 

 diminished since those days when it roamed in countless myriads from the 

 foot of the great Zwartberg range in the south of Cape Colony to the 

 Orange River and far beyond, it is still fairly plentiful in many parts of the 

 country. In height a good specimen of the springbuck will measure about 

 32 inches ; in length about 4 feet 8 or 10 inches ; while the weight of a fair 

 ram in good condition is about 70 lbs. The general body-colouring is 

 bright cinnamon -fawn, the face, throat, stomach, and inner parts of the 

 limbs being spotless white. A small patch of the fawn colour is to be 

 observed on the upper part of the forehead between the horns, and the 

 white face is characteristically marked by a rich streak of chestnut on 

 either side, running from the eye nearly down to the corner of the mouth. 

 A broad dark band of chestnut runs also horizontally along the side and 

 flank of the animal, and is noticeable at a long distance. The horns are 

 black, lyrate in shape, and strongly annulated for three parts of their 

 length upwards. Those of the ewes are less robust, and are often less 

 strongly ringed. The longest recorded pair of springbuck horns at present 

 known measures over the curve 1 9 inches, but a good average pair seldom 

 attains more than 13 inches. The eyes are large, dark, and very beautiful. 

 The legs are long, slender, and beautifully clean. One of the most curious 

 features about this antelope is the singular blaze of white hair which normally 

 lies folded flat upon the croup, and is nearly covered by the cinnamon body- 

 colouring upon the back of the springbuck. When the animal is excited, 

 alarmed, or at play, it has the faculty of erecting this strange patch of white 



