THE CAPE HARTEBEEST 



grubs often burrow into the frontal cavities of the 

 skull. That these parasites are a source of constant 

 irritation to the animal there can be no doubt, for 

 the victim in a vain attempt to free itself is almost 

 constantly sneezing and blowing. I examined a 

 series of Hartebeest heads in Natal and found several 

 of the larvae of the Bot-fly in about one in every 

 five of the heads. They were usually lodged high 

 up in the nasal passages, but in several instances 

 I discovered them in the frontal skull cavities and 

 deep in the bony cavity of the ear. In two instances 

 which came under my observation the damage to 

 the mechanism of the ear was so serious that the 

 sense of hearing had been quite destroyed. 



After several months the grubs reach maturity 

 and make their way into the nostrils, causing such 

 intense irritation that in the violent sneezing which 

 ensues, they are expelled and fall to the ground, 

 where they at once bury themselves and turn into 

 the chrysalis {pu^d) condition, and eventually emerge 

 as mature Bot-flies. 



The flesh of the Hartebeest is dark in colour and 

 rather tasteless when eaten fresh, but it makes 

 excellent biltong. 



The Hartebeest rarely attempt to use their 

 horns against mankind, even when wounded and 

 at bay. 



In the intervals of feeding and resting, the 

 males indulge largely in the sport of biitting and 

 fighting with one another, often upon their knees, 



5 



