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Show 1899.J BLUE DUIKER OF THE CAPE COLONY. 831 the ground are comparatively clear, hence the little Blue Duiker, or Blue-buck, as it is generally called, moves about in what to him is practically open bush, in which objects are visible at a considerable distance: thus the stooping, struggling form of the stalker worming a passage through an opening two feet square in an unyielding wall of thorns, or striving to free himself from the too firm embrace of a network of " wacht-een-beetje " bushes, cannot fail to attract attention long before the little grey watcher, standing motionless in the shadows, has been discovered. At the bush-drives so common in the Colony, Blue-buck are seldom turned out; they will keep such dogs as have not learned wisdom of experience tearing round and round a kloof all day, but will never venture to break unless by chance a hard-pressed individual takes advantage of some narrow* bush-strip at an unwatched, untbought-of point to escape by way of it into the next kloof. The Blue-buck may be easily bagged, however, in the early morning by the exercise of a little judgmeut. The direction of the wind must be studied before all things, then search must be made for the most frequented " paths " or " runs." Should one be found which is evidently a main path to and from certain feeding-grounds, this can be watched ; but a surer method is to find a spot where they are accustomed to feed on the surrounding bushes. In such places many converging paths will be seen, in view of which, at a short distance down wind, the watcher must take his stand before sunrise, keeping out of sight behind a bush or fallen tree-trunk. Under such circumstances, his patience will not be severely taxed before he is rewarded by a sight of the little grey wood-elves. In localities where water is handy, the paths to and from it may be watched. In the heat of summer Blue-buck frequently drink between noon and 2 P.M., but, as is the case with the Bush-buck, in the extensive arid regions of this Colony, the want of water troubles the Blue-buck not at all; during the trying drought which has raged over the Gamtoos river district for the past fifteen months, countless numbers of both Bush-buck and Blue-buck have certainly not tasted water from one week's end to another. In little disturbed localities I have seen Blue-buck playing about in pairs on fairly open ground bordering the kloofs as late as 8 A.M., and towards evening, during the hour before sunset, they may often be seen standing in or crossing any quiet road which passes through scrub-busb. But they are very quick, and though in the dusk they will stand watching the intruder curiously, yet before the light fails they usually scuttle off very promptly, uttering their sharp, but by no means shrill alarm whistle. They are apt soon to stand again, however, so that if silently followed up, a shot may be obtained. When lying up for the day they usually select spots overgrown with thorn-bush and other vegetation, reaching these from the more open bush, in which they feed, by regularly frequented paths. It will be remarked that while in many respects their habits are 54* |
