XX 
THE ANTELOPE 
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not gregarious, but is found either singly or in pairs, 
generally in high grass, where they lie close until 
disturbed by the elephant, which almost treads 
upon them before they can be induced to move. 
They dash off at full speed, and from the howdah 
they are difficult to hit with a rifle. A Paradox 
gun with one barrel loaded with ball, while the 
other contains a charge of buck-shot, is an excellent 
weapon where small deer are objects of the day’s 
sport. 
The antelope par excellence of India is the 
well-known black-buck (Antilope cervicapra ). This 
is without exception the most graceful and sporting 
animal of the tribe. In some portions of India 
it is exceedingly numerous, while in other parts 
it is so extremely rare that it cannot be classed 
among the fauna of the district. 
This animal is gregarious, and is generally seen 
in herds of twenty or thirty individuals. It in¬ 
habits vast plains and infests the crops of the 
natives, especially when the young wheat is about 
9 inches high. I have seen exceptional herds, 
comprising several hundred individuals, but it is 
seldom that they are met with in such great 
numbers united, although many hundreds may be 
scattered in small groups over the area of a few 
square miles. 
There is nothing more lovely than a fine black- 
buck about eight years old, when the coat looks 
as black as pitch, contrasted with the snow-white 
markings of the belly, face, and throat. The 
