“Its habits are so skulking that it is extremely hard to procure specimens, even when the hunter is aware of its existence in a particular locality. Nothing but a well organized beat with natives and dogs will make these animals break cover from the bush and long grass they frequent.
“I never heard of one being seen or shot in the open, and their spoor and droppings are only seen just on the outskirts of the cover, where they feed at night.
“The way in which they double and dodge the dogs and beaters in full cry is inimitable, and to an onlooker is most entertaining. Their vitality is wonderful, and their power of endurance before dogs considerable, especially considering their comparatively small size. There is little difference between the respective weights of the sexes when adult, as I was surprised to find when I put them into the scale.
“The female is always horned, and in two specimens that I dissected each was found to be carrying a quarter-grown (hairless) fœtus, in the month of April. A wounded animal that I saw pulled down by a dog gave vent to a prolonged squeal, not unlike a rabbit or hare does under similar circumstances, though fainter in volume.
“The long tuft of hair around and between the horns is always more marked in the male, and practically masks the horns. The flesh is not appreciated by a European palate, though the reverse is the case with the Swazis, as I have noticed.
“Measurements taken of three Adult Specimens, 15th April, 1894.
| 1. (♂.) | 2. (♀.) | 3. (♀.) | |
| in. | in. | in. | |
| Height at shoulder | 17¾ | 18 | 16¾ |
| Circumference of barrel behind shoulder | 18¾ | 18¼ | 17¼ |
| Point of shoulder to nose | 12¼ | 14 | 12¾ |
| Circumference of neck | 10 | 9¼ | 9¼ |
| Nose to tail | 36¼ | 38 | 39¼ |
| Weight | 26 lbs. | 27½ lbs. | 25½ lbs.” |
May, 1895.
THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XVII.
