ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NATAL. 147 



in the higher as well as in the lower orders of animal life. An 

 interesting incident was observed whilst Snipe-shooting at Clare- 

 niont, near Durban, on the 1st November last. My pointer-dog 

 started a young Keed-buck (Cervicapra arundinum), and immedi- 

 ately gave chase. The little buck was apparently but a few days 

 old, and rushed off frantically in the long grass ; but the dog 

 soon gained ground, and was just about overtaking it, much to 

 my regret, when the little buck, fearing capture, started bleating. 

 This gave warning to the mother, who, watching us approach, 

 had remained concealed in cover only eighteen inches in height. 

 Immediately the bleating was heard, a fine doe Keed-buck rose 

 within one hundred yards from us, and rushed off gallantly to 

 rescue her young. The dog, not noticing the doe, was in hot 

 pursuit, and within a yard or two of the little fawn, which in a 

 few moments must have fallen to its pursuer. The doe now 

 rushed at full speed, answering her little one's call in a deep 

 guttural note, and, on overtaking the dog, deliberately jumped 

 over it, and whilst in the air kicked out with her hind legs. The 

 dog fell, but whether from fright or through being kicked 

 over — probably the latter — I was unable to detect ; however, be 

 that as it may, the dog was so startled at such an incident that he 

 immediately pulled up, and stood staring in wonderment, whilst 

 the mother proudly cantered off with her young, a sight that any 

 sportsman would delight to see. 



Strange Messmates. — In October last I had occasion to 

 watch a pair of Black Saw- winged Swallows (Psalidoprocne holo- 

 melce?ia), in order to discover their nest, and was soon rewarded 

 by seeing one of the birds suddenly disappear in the ground 

 carrying grass. On approaching I found a deserted hole of an 

 Ant-bear,* into which the Swallow had gone. These birds 

 frequent the holes of Ant-bears in preference to an embankment 

 when nesting, and the reason may be readily understood when it 

 is seen what protection is thus afforded against their many 

 enemies. Having observed that the bird was then only con- 

 structing its nest, I decided to revisit the spot shortly afterwards, 

 when, to my surprise, I found that the Ant-bear had returned 

 home to his old haunt, taking up his abode inside. The ground 

 being much disturbed, with the hole partly closed, it struck me 



* Ardvaark (Orycteropus capensis). 



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