THE IMPALA OR PALLA 



low veld " owing to its marvellous leaping powers. 

 Kirby measured three successive bounds of 26, 16 

 and 28 feet, making 70 feet in all. An animal dealer 

 in Port Elizabeth exported a good many of these 

 antelopes to Europe. On one occasion I was in his 

 yard taking photographs, when an Impala ram, 

 frightened by the fluttering of the camera-cloth, 

 sprang clean over an 8-foot fence, and then leapt 

 upon the roof of a shed 9 feet in height. When 

 given a clean run, an Impala will clear a 12-foot 

 fence apparently without any undue eflFort. 



These antelope are readily tamed, with the 

 exception of the old rams, which often become surly 

 and savage. These should always be kept in solitary 

 confinement, as they are apt to attack and gore, any 

 others of their kind if herded together in a single 

 enclosure. 



The Impala when alarmed makes off through the 

 bush at a rapid rate, bounding over the bushes, 

 rocks and dongas in a wonderfully graceful and 

 easy manner. 



Their chief natural enemies are the Lion, Leopard, 

 Chita and Cape Hunting Dog. The Crocodile, 

 with which most of the large African rivers are 

 infested, lies in ambush ready to seize them when 

 they approach the water to drink. At the lambing 

 season the smaller carnivora prey upon the lambs. 



The Impala is bright chestnut-red on the back, 

 shading off on the sides to pale red-fawn. The 

 under parts and insides of the limbs are pure white. 



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