142 THE INYALA 



the next habitation of another assemblage is 

 reached, is, I beheve, a pecuharity which is not 

 noticeable in any other member of the Zambezian 

 fauna. There can be little doubt that this 

 strange habit connects itself with food considera- 

 tions, which cause the local concentration of 

 this fine animal in areas which, without incon- 

 veniencing them in the smallest degree, could 

 almost be confined within a ring fence. They 

 are lovers of dense bush, into which soon after 

 dawn they slowly retire, to issue forth, if undis- 

 turbed, once more near sunset. They drink 

 twice a day or, if unmolested, oftener ; whilst 

 their food, so far as is known at present, consists 

 but little of grass, a strong predilection being 

 displayed for the leaves, fruits, and seed-vessels 

 of a variety of forest growths, the names of 

 which would convey but little, I fear, to the 

 average sportsman at home. 



In appearance the male inyala is a beautiful, 

 stately beast. The horns, which are not carried 

 by the females, are of almost exactly the same 

 shape as those of his relative the bushbuck, but 

 attain to greater length and thickness, and are 

 tipped with yellowish white. I do not know what 

 may be the present record, but I should regard 

 23 inches, measured along the curve, as being 

 distinctly good. The colouring of this animal is 

 very beautiful and unusual. The males vary con- 

 siderably, a fact due doubtless to age, environ- 

 ment, or other considerations, but those I have 

 seen are of a singular purplish grey, with a full, 

 beard-like, goaty fringe under the throat which 



