104 THE ELAND 



curious white chevron on the face, whilst in 

 others this peculiarity was entirely absent. The 

 horns carried by the elands I am describing have 

 a usual maximum measurement of 28 to 32 inches, 

 those of the cows (for both sexes carry horns) 

 being at times as long or longer, but much 

 slenderer and less massive. The calves are born 

 singly in March and April, the period of gestation 

 being between eight and nine months. 



Although they drink once a day, or perhaps 

 oftener where water is readily procurable, they 

 are, nevertheless, curiously independent of it, 

 and may be found occasionally at a considerable 

 distance from it. It thus happens that in case 

 of need they can place for a while between 

 themselves and their pursuers long distances 

 of practically desert country. If disturbed they 

 never stampede wildly, as in the cases of most 

 other animals ; they simply trot away quietly, 

 and if seriously alarmed keep up the same pace 

 for a long distance without stopping. During 

 the early spring and throughout the rainy season 

 elands split up into small groups and become 

 very sleek and fat, but in the winter the herds 

 reassemble, and at this time of year the older 

 bulls assume quite a dark bluish grey colour, 

 and with advancing years become almost hair- 

 less. 



There are still in the remoter districts — apart 

 from Zambezia — ^large numbers of elands. They 

 are on the whole wary beasts, and at times 

 extremely difficult to approach, partly by reason 

 of their accompanying bird — I believe the same 



