THE LECHWE KOB 



its cousin the Waterbuck ; and next to the Sitatunga 

 is considered to be the most aquatic of all antelopes 

 in its habits, being, in fact, a true swamp dweller. 



Great stretches of country bordering many of the 

 rivers is submerged by water owing to the annual 

 overflow of the rivers. In these vast swamps great 

 forests of reeds and papyri grow, which afford food 

 and shelter for the Lechwe. 



They associate in large troops of ewes and several 

 herd rams, and at other times troops of adult 

 and immature males without a single ewe are 

 observed. 



The Lechwe spends most of its time wading knee- 

 deep in water through the shallow lagoons or water- 

 covered flats, grazing on the tops of the grass and 

 young reeds which grow up out of the shallow 

 water. 



When at rest the Lechwe lies either at the water's 

 edge or in very shallow water. 



When alarmed they make off into the reeds and 

 papyri to the deeper water in the heart of the swamp, 

 progressing with great leaps or bounds. Even 

 when the water nearly covers their bodies they 

 continue to spring and bound with much splashing. 

 On reaching deep water they swim with great 

 facility, but can be overtaken by a native paddling 

 in a canoe. The natives, aware of this fact, sur- 

 round and drive them into the deep water, when 

 they are overtaken and speared. 



The natives prize the skin highly, converting it 



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