THE D UYKER- B OK. 
'527 
height of twelve or thirteen feet. When leaping, the back is greatly curved, and the creature 
presents a very curious aspect, owing to the sudden exhibition of the long white hairs that 
cover the croup, and are nearly hidden by a fold of skin when the creature is at rest, but 
which come boldly into view as soon as the protecting skin-fold is obliterated by the tension 
of the muscles that serve to propel the animal in its aerial course. 
The Spring-bok is a marvellously timid animal, and will never cross a road if it can avoid 
the necessity. When it is forced to do so, it often compromises the difficulty by leaping over 
the spot which has been tainted by the foot of man. The color of the Spring-bok is very 
pleasing, the ground tinting being a warm cinnamon-brown upon the upper surface of the 
body, and pure white upon the abdomen, the 
two colors being separated from each other by 
a broad band of reddish-brown. The flesh of 
the Spring-bok is held in some estimation, 
and the hide is in great request for many use- 
ful purposes. 
A veet curious species of Antelopes is 
that which is scientifically known by the 
name of Tetrdcerus quad/ricornus , both words 
bearing the same signification, viz. “four- 
horned.” These singular animals are natives 
of India, where they are known under the 
titles of Chotjsixgha, or Chouka, the last 
word being derived from the native term 
chov.lt, a leap, which has been given to the ani- 
mal in allusion to its habit of making lofty 
bounds. 
The front pair of horns are very short, 
and are placed just above the eyes, the hinder 
pair being much longer, and occupying the 
usual position on the head. The females are 
hornless. The color of the Chousingha is a 
bright bay above and gray-white below, a few 
sandy hairs being intermixed with the white. 
The length of the hinder pair of horns is 
rather more than three inches, while the front, 
or spurious horns as they are sometimes 
termed, are only three-quarters of an inch long. The height of the adult animal is about 
twenty inches. 
The Duykek-Bok, or Impooh, has derived its name of Duyker, or Diver, fro m its habit 
of diving suddenly, when alarmed, into the heavy brushwood among which it lives, and of 
disappearing from the sight of the hunter. For the following valuable account of the animal 
I am again indebted to Captain Dray son 1 s MS. notes on the fauna of Southern Africa, which 
he has kindly placed at my disposal. 
‘ c On the borders of the bush, the Antelope which is most commonly met is the Duyker, a 
solitary and very cunning animal. 
If the sportsman should happen to overtake this buck, it will lie still, watching him 
attentively, and will not move until it is aware that it is observed. It will then jump up 
and start off, making a series of sharp turns and dives, sometimes over bushes, and at 
others through them. When it conceives that it is observed, it will crouch in the long grass 
or behind a bush, as though it were going to lie down. This conduct is, however, nothing 
but a ruse for the purpose of concealing its retreat, as it will then crawl along under the 
foliage for several yards, and when it has gone to some distance in this sly manner, will again 
