236 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
to ten individuals; but towards the end of the dry season they collect into large herds, 
and at such times I have often seen from fifty to over two hundred of these animals in 
one troop. 
In my experience elands live for two-thirds of the year in forest or bush-covered country, 
or amongst rugged hills; and in such localities they are difficult to overtake on horseback; 
but in the middle of the dry season, as soon as they smell the smoke of the grass fires lighted 
by the natives on the open plateaux, they leave their retreats, and, collecting in herds, wander 
out on to the treeless plains in search of young grass. They then fall an easy prey to a 
mounted hunter, especially the heavy old bulls, which can be run to a standstill with ease by 
a very moderate horse. 
The flesh of the eland is excellent when the animal is in good condition, as at such a 
time these animals become very fat, especially the old bulls, whose hearts become encased in 
a mass of fat which will often weigh 20 Ibs. It is a mistake, however, to think that 
eland-meat is always good; for towards the end of the dry season, when there is little grass 
to be got, they feed extensively on the leaves of certain bushes, and their meat at such times 
becomes very poor and tasteless. . 
Besides the common eland of Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa, another distinct 
species is met with in Senegal and the Gambia Colony. This is the DERBIAN ELAND, about 
which animal our knowledge is still very slight, as I believe that it has never yet been shot 
nor its habits studied by a European traveler. A good many skulls and horns and a few skins 
have been obtained from natives, from which it appears that in general colour this species is 
of a rich reddish-fawn colour, becoming nearly white below, the middle of the belly being 
black. The neck is covered with long hair of a dark brown or black colour, blacker towards 
the shoulder than in front. A broad black stripe extends all down the centre of the back 
from the neck to the root of the tail, and there are large black patches on the backs and 
inner sides of the 
F ; Oe 1 fore legs above the 
knees. On _ each 
| side of the body 
: and haunches 
there are thirteen 
or fourteen narrow 
white stripes. The 
horns are larger 
and more massive 
and divergent than 
in the common 
eland. : 
The Derbian 
eland is said to be 
a forest-loving 
animal, never of its 
own accord coming 
out into the plains. 
It lives in small 
herds, is very shy 
yy } and not at all 
ee ie PR MORE wi ; S|) abundant, and 
, sa 6 2h ih ED Ba. aes browses on the 
BULL ELAND leaves and young 
The flesh of the eland is of better flavour than that of most other large game. If sheltered in winter, the shoots of various 
species will thrive in English parks trees and bushes. 
Photo by W. P. Dando] 
