376 Great and Small Game of Africa 



pointed out by Mr. F. J. Jackson, it will sometimes retreat into a patch 

 when alarmed, nor in country where the soil is fertile or the climate moist 

 and the vegetation in consequence rank, but delights in barren, rather 

 open scrub, where the hard red soil is devoid of undergrowth, and great 

 patches are bare even of grass, and in sandy or gravelly wastes sprinkled 

 with stunted thorn bushes. In such situations it may be seen in small 

 parties browsing on the leaves of these thorny shrubs. As might be 

 inferred from its build, it feeds solely on leaves ; and, not satisfied with the 

 advantage which its immensely long neck and lanky legs afford, it even 

 stands on its hind-legs when reaching after some tempting morsel, its fore- 

 feet resting on a branch after the manner of a goat, and is thus enabled by 

 stretching up its neck to reach to a wonderful height. 



I believe this creature to be quite independent of water, and it may be 

 seen in the driest parts of the country far from any possible drinking-place. 

 It seems almost incredible that it should be able to derive sufficient 

 moisture for the needs of its system from the sapless leafage of the scraggy 

 desert shrubs. But it appears proof against the burning dry heat, and may 

 be seen contentedly browsing on the withered foliage of the shadeless 

 dwarf trees and bushes in the fierce glare of mid-day, when the very look 

 of the baked ground is enough to make one thirsty. 



In describing the peculiar gait of this antelope in Elephant Hunting 

 in East Equatorial Africa I wrote : " The head is lowered and the long 

 neck stretched out straight in front, and these, with its lanky legs and 

 slender body, give the animal a very curious appearance as it starts off at a 

 quick trot." It is a very wary beast and rarely offers an easy shot. The 

 meat of the doe is tender and well flavoured. Jackson describes the note 

 of alarm as " a low short ' buzz.' " This cry seems to come through the 

 nose. I do not remember to have noticed it make any other sound. 



I am unable to give any very definite idea of the limits of its range. It 

 has been recorded from the neighbourhood of Kilimanjaro, but whether it 



