94 



THE TWO-TOED ARTIODACTYLA. 



makes this game easily becomes the prey of 

 the hunter, who takes advantage of its 

 stupidity. 



The Duyker-bok or Madocqua {Cephalophus 

 mergens), fig. 168, is distinguished by the 

 short and straight horns of the male, which 

 are almost hidden by a tuft of hair and by 

 the very large pointed ears. The legs are 

 very thin, the tail short and provided with a 



terminal tuft. The colour varies very much 

 from gray to olive-green. The animal fre- 

 quents moist places in the denser parts of 

 the bush, and shows great skill in taking 

 advantage of the shelters afforded by its 

 retreat to hide itself from pursuit; hence the 

 name, meaning "ducker," bestowed upon it 

 by the Boers. It takes a zigzag course in 

 running. Its flesh is tough, but the leather 





^^ 



Fig. 170. — The Rietbok [Reduncus eleotragus). 



made from its hide is highly esteemed as a 

 material for whip-cords. 



The Chikara of India, the Four-horned 

 Antelope [Tetraceros quadricornis), fig. 169, 

 an animal of about the size of a gazelle, is 

 easily distinguished by the possession of a 

 second pair oi small horns above the eyes, 

 while the principal horns, which are almost 

 straight and not very large, are set between 

 the ears. The ears are large, the tear-pits 

 rather long, the nose broad and naked, the 

 legs long and slender. The male alone carries 

 horns. The animal inhabits the wooded 

 mountainous regions of Bengal and Nepaul. 

 In captivity it shows boldness and ill-temper. 



The Rietbok (reed-buck) of the Boers, the 

 Umseke of the natives (Reduncus eleotragus), 

 fig. 1 70, is a little larger than our roe, and at 

 the same time a little more slender and 

 higher on the legs. The very sharp horns 

 of the male are curved forwards, the ears 

 long, the neck long and round, the tail com- 

 paratively long and bushy, the fur rather 

 short but thick, of a reddish-gray colour, 

 lighter underneath. The animal lives in 

 pairs in the dense thickets of Central and 

 Southern Africa. When hunted it allows its 

 pursuer to approach pretty close up to it, 

 concealing itself meanwhile carefully. On 

 perceiving signs of danger it gives warning 



