THE BLUE DUIKER 



The Blue Duiker is the smallest of the South 

 African antelopes, being about the same size and 

 weight as a large hare. The average height of an 

 adult at the shoulder is 13 inches. The ewe is 

 slightly larger than the ram. 



This pygmy buck inhabits the thick bush-lands 

 and dense scrub, where it has regular beaten tracks 

 along which it runs with great swiftness. 



Although this little Duiker is commonest in the 

 forest belts along the coast, it is, nevertheless, abun- 

 dant in the more inland districts. I have met with 

 it in all the bush-covered parts of Natal. It does 

 not keep exclusively to the dense scrub and forests ; 

 it sometimes wanders into long grass interspersed 

 with isolated patches of scrub. 



When not periodically burned, the rank grass 

 mats itself together, and beneath this cover the 

 Blue Duikers have innumerable tracks from which 

 they can be dislodged with fox-terrier dogs. 



These Duikers will not break cover unless absolutely 

 compelled as a last resource, and when they do they 

 race with great speed for the nearest patch of scrub 

 or long grass. When hunted and hard pressed in 

 isolated patches of bush, they crouch low upon the 

 ground and lie very close. 



In Natal they are usually driven out of their 

 bushy cover by native beaters with dogs. So rapid 

 in their movements and so secretive are they that, 

 although the beaters may be armed with assegais 

 and kerries, and only a few yards apart, these nimble 



39 



