THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 31 



buck is the mark for their bullets ; nor is it by any means uncommon 

 to observe trained sportsmen fresh from England, and armed with 

 the best and most accurately sighted rifles, aimlessly discharge 

 50 to 60 cartridges without result, whilst a Boer or anyone accus- 

 tomed to the sport will generally be successful at least once out 

 of half-a-dozen tries. Moreover, Springbuck are now a days ex- 

 tremely shy, and it is quite an exception to obtain a shot at a 

 closer range than 300 or 400 yards. It is strange, but nevertheless a 

 fact which all experienced hunters will confirm, that it is merely 

 a waste of cartridges to fire into the " brown" of a flock, no 

 matter how numerous or closely packed the animals may be. The 

 usual plan adopted by the Boers (than whom there are no finer shots 

 in the world at moving objects) when hunting the Springbuck is 

 for six or more horsemen to approach from different directions in 

 the endeavour to scatter the herd before firing. If this can be 

 accomplished, the animals get much confused, and are then readily 

 approached at close shooting distance. Another method which is 

 recommended is to have a span of oxen driven towards a herd of 

 these antelopes, and by keeping well among the cattle, it will be 

 possible to get to within 50 or 60 yards of them. During the chill 

 winter months, it has been observed that the species will often 

 forsake the open flats towards sundown, and take refuge from the 

 cold of the night in some neighbouring bushes. On such occasions 

 excellent stalking may be obtained at dawn of day, at a time when, 

 according to a Boer saying, " there is sufficient light to enable one 

 to distinguish the chestnut patch on the bucks' sides." A common 

 practice, which can often be adopted with success, and is recom- 

 mended, is to loose some dogs not possessed of any great speed into 

 a flock, a proceeding at which the Springbucks are no wise terrified, 

 their attention being concentrated and their curiosity excited during 

 the futile eiforts of their pursuers to overtake them as they gambol 

 around, when they can be readily approached to very close quarters. 

 They usually drink every second day, but often sustain themselves 

 for a week at a time without water. The flesh is excellent. 



The Blessbuck {Damalis albifrons). Fig. 9, Plate III. — 

 {Blesbok of the Dutch ; Nunni of the Bechuanas.) 



[Average height of adult male about 3 feet 2 inches, occasionally 

 larger. General colour, light hoary brown, approaching chestnut 



