THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 33 



liarity of both varieties, when on the gallop, is the habit they have 

 of beating against wind, keeping their heads close to the ground 

 like a hound on the scent. 



The Tsessebe {Damalis lunatus). Fig 19, Plate VI. — 

 {Bastard Hartebeeste of the Dutch; Tsessebe of the Bechuanas; 

 Incolomo of the Matabele ; Lechu of the Masarwas.) 



[Height 3 feet 10 inches. General appearance almost identical 

 with the Hartebeest, the head, however, being broader at the top, and 

 body bulkier. Horns about 12 inches, crescent-shaped, well annu- 

 lated. Females with horns, but more slender. Spoor almost 

 indistinguishable from that of the species above referred fo.J 



This antelope does not frequent the Cape Colony, its most Southern 

 range being Sichele's country in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. It 

 is occasionally met with in the extreme confines of the Transvaal 

 bordering the Crocodile or Limpopo River, and is still fairly 

 numerous in the Matabele and Mashona countries, where not driven 

 out by the invasion of gold prospectors during the last two years; 

 but it is very plentiful in places in the independent native territory 

 on the East Coast North of the Crocodile. Immediately South of the 

 Zambesi, about the Chobe, Mababe, and Botletle Rivers, and in the 

 neighbourhood of Lake 'Ngami, it is even to-day quite common. 

 The Tsessebe is the fleetest and most enduring of all the larger 

 antelopes of South Africa, the calves shortly after birth being able 

 to keep up with those that are full grown. Like the Hartebeest, it 

 is a stupid animal, and is as easily confused, its habits and charac- 

 teristics also being almost identical. Although not in the habit of 

 drinking daily, it never appears to stray such long distances from 

 water as the Hartebeest or Wildebeest. Its paces are jerky and 

 irregular like the Hartebeest, and the flesh is rather good. 



The Rhebuck {Pelea capreola). Fig. 24, Plate VII. — {Vaal 

 Rhibok of the Dutch; Peeli of the Bechuanas.) 



\_Average height of male JO inches. General colour, dirty light 

 greyish brown, underneath white; tail short, broad, and fan-shaped; 

 body long and slim; neck attenuated; ears long and pointed; coat 

 thick and woolly. Horns average 8 inches in length, wide apart, 



Q 



