THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. ^7 



thick bush, and where such is not at hand even into the open 

 country. When suddenly alarmed, the males sometimes give vent 

 to a whistle resembling that of the Red Rhebok {Cervicapra lalandii). 

 The species is rather easily approached, and the gallop being slow 

 and regular, it is perhaps the easiest of the South African antelopes 

 to shoot ; but at the same time it must be remarked that this, like 

 all the other water-resorting varieties, possesses an extraordinary 

 amount of vitality. The flesh is scarcely palatable, but the liver is 

 considered a tit-bit. 



The Bushbuck {Tragelaphus sylvaticus). Fig. i6, Plate V. — ■ 

 {Boschbok of the Dutch.) 



\_Height of full-grown male about 34 inches. General colour^ 

 dark chocolate^ darker above, occasionally marked along the spine 

 with a thin white streak, together with a few round white spots on 

 cheek and flank. Horns average a little over 12 inches, erect, 

 spiral, closely wrinkled at base, with sharp, smooth points. Females 

 hornless. Spoor oblong, heart-shaped, and sharp, very small in 

 comparison to the animaVs size, about iVz inches.^ 



Although such an eminent authority as Mr. Selous considers the 

 ordinary Bushbuck of the Cape Colony and the Harnessed Antelope 

 {Tragelaphus scriptus) of Lake 'Ngami, the Chobe, and North- 

 western Africa to be specifically identical, without entering into such 

 a question here it is thought better to separately treat the varieties 

 — if, indeed, they be varieties — as they vary considerably from each 

 other both in size and colouring. As specimens of both are at 

 present to be seen in the Zoological Gardens, London, those taking 

 sufficient interest in the matter may solve the question to their own 

 satisfaction from personal observation. The Bushbuck is found in 

 all the maritime divisions of the Cape Colony and Natal wherever 

 there are any considerable belts of thick bush. It is unusual to come 

 across more than a pair of adults together at the same time, and 

 it rarely ventures in the daytime from the impenetrable bush unless 

 driven, only emerging into the open glades to feed during the dark- 

 ness of the night. Like the Koodoo, when pursued it keeps as 

 much as possible to the bush, through the thickest portions of which 

 it penetrates with the greatest facility, the horns at the time being 

 thrown backwards along the neck, which is generally denuded of 

 hair, this probably being caused' by constant rubbing against the 



