52 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



This fine looking antelope is now very rarely found on the upper 

 and lower banks of the Botletle River, about the Mababe Flats, 

 Great Makari Kaii salt-pans, and Chobe country. In the less 

 frequented portions of Matabeleland it is still fairly common, 

 and although once plentiful in Mashonaland, it is now almost 

 driven out of that country through the influx of prospectors, being, 

 however, very numerous in the low country towards the East 

 Coast. The Roan Antelope is usually found in troops numbering 

 from six to twelve, and chiefly resorts to countries abounding with 

 low hilly ridges. Although its appearance when galloping is very 

 heavy, it can nevertheless get along with rapidity; and possessing 

 considerable endurance, in this respect it far exceeds the Gems- 

 buck. It is of a particularly shy disposition, and when grazing, 

 every now and then raises the head, looking around in every direc- 

 tion as if in constant expectation of danger. When wounded it is 

 the most dangerous of all African antelopes, and if hunted hard 

 will often turn and charge furiously, even when uninjured. Its 

 powers of scent are particularly strong, and on detecting the slightest 

 breath of "tainted" air it will at once start running. The flesh is 

 fairly good. 



The Koodoo {Strepsiceros kudu). Fig. i, Plate I. — {Kicdu of 

 the Dutch; Tola of the Bechuanas; Le-bala-bala of the 

 Matabele; Noro of the Mashonas; Unskma of the Makobas). 



\Height of adult tnale often 5 feet. General colour, bluish rufous 

 grey ; two or three white spots on each cheek, together with white bands 

 on upper portion of nose immediately under eyes; pale stripe down spine, 

 from which halfordozen indistinct white bands branch downwards 

 towards belly, being more definite in those found in the Zambesi regions 

 than those further South; eais extremely large and prominent; tail 

 tipped with sable. Horns average j feet, sometimes attaining to J feet 

 10 ifiches, bulky, spiral, wrinkled at base. Females hornless. Spoor 

 J inches, heart-shaped, rather narrow at heel."] 



It is pleasing to state that, notwithstanding the continual persecu- 

 tion by both natives and white men, this majestic and graceful 

 antelope is still to be widely found in favourable localities, and is 

 plentifully distributed almost throughout South-central Africa. The 

 day is past, however, when it can fairly be included in the list of the 



