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Reiche, of Alfeld, informs us that, in his yearly importations of animals from 
the Transvaal since 1887, he has received no less than eight living examples 
of this Antelope, which have been disposed of to various Continental 
Gardens. These, however, may have been obtained in the adjoining Por- 
tuguese border-country to the north of that Republic. But Mr. Kirby, in his 
‘Haunts of Wild Game,’ tells us that, “although very rare,’ the Roan 
Antelope is still to be found in the north-eastern parts of the ‘Transvaal. 
‘There are a few on the high stony ridges across the Mehlamhali and about 
Maripi’s Berg and the Oliphants River, but nowhere in large numbers.” In 
1891 he shot two fine bulls on the Nuanetsi, but they were wanderers. 
It was across the Limpopo within the borders of Mashonaland that 
Mr. John Millais came across this beautiful Antelope in 1893. Its head 
forms one of the subjects of the cover of his enchanting volume ‘ A Breath 
from the Veldt,’ the pages of which contain several excellent sketches of 
this splendid animal and much information cn its habits. It was near 
Eland’s Fontein, between the Rivers Bubye and Nuanetsi, that Mr. Millais 
obtained his first specimen of the Roan Antelope, of which he writes 
as follows :— 
“On the Veldt the Roan has a fine and noble appearance, though it does look a bit 
‘front heavy.’ It carries its head very finely, but not with the grace and the nobility 
of the Sable. In many respects it resembles its handsomer cousin. Its habits are much 
the same, being found alike in open or enclosed country, though on the whole it evinces 
a greater predilection for the great plains with scattered bush, while the Sable is fond 
of climbing about the low rocky hills, or in bush at the base of kopjies. The Roan 
Antelope is also a much more regular drinker than the Sable, which can go for long 
periods without requiring water. A troop of the former, if undisturbed, come every 
evening to about the same spot on some favourite sluit of standing water, while 
the latter drink ivregularly and nearly always about daybreak. 
“ Although the Roan is a very large animal, standing about 5 feet at the shoulder, the 
dull reddish grey of its hide makes it very hard to distinguish in bush, and it would often 
be passed even in the open lands but for its shy nature, which causes it to start 
lumbering away as soon as it sees a man on a horse. 
“The Sable will stand and stare at you quite close sometimes, as much as to say 
‘Who the devil are you?’ The Koodoo will creep under the shadow of a thorn bush 
and hope to ‘Goodness gracious’ you won’t notice him; but the Roan will say ‘Good 
morning’ as soon as he sees you. 
“ Roans seem to keep in much smaller parties than the Sables, about a dozen cows 
being the limit, whilst the old males live much to themselves, and are more difficult 
to find than they are to bag. When running the Roans adopt single file, and each 
