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Show 832 ON THE BLUE DUIKER OF THE CAPE COLONY. [Nov. 14, similar to those of the Red Duiker (G. natalensis), they entirely differ from them in their rigid avoidance of really open ground ; for it is well known that the Red Duiker loves to disport himself on open grassy ridges 200 or 300 yards distant from any bush : I have shot many in such situations. " Scuttle " is a word which aptly describes the movements of a Blue-buck when alarmed : unlike G. grimmi and 0. natalensis, they do not bound away, but move at a quick scuttling trot. Blue-buck are almost entirely browsers upon bushes, and it is well known that in order to get at branches which are out of their reach when standing on the ground, they will raise themselves on their hind legs like goats, resting their fore feet against the tree-stem. Perhaps, however, the fact is now made known for the first time (if, indeed, it does not actually amount to the discovery of a hitherto unknown habit of this antelope), that tbe Blue-buck can and does climb trees ! M y brother Mr. E. W . Kirby witnessed this singular feat yesterday morning (21st April), when out stalking, and actually shot one as it stood on a branch, browsing on tbe leaves around it. He was first attracted to the spot by the low grunting sounds they were making, but, though they were evidently close by, he failed to make one out after carefully scrutinizing the surrounding bush. Advancing cautiously, he soon saw the leaA es of a " boer-boon " tree ' shaking violently, and for a moment believed it was caused by either baboons or monkeys : at last, to his surprise, he discovered a Blue-buck moving along a branch of the tree some 12 feet from the ground. Although in pursuit of Bush-buck, this opportunity of shooting a Blue-buck under such peculiar circumstances was not to be lost, so he fired and killed it. At the report of the rifle at least eight other Blue-buck dropped from the branches, apparently reaching the ground on all four legs at once, and scuttled off; while, as he stepped forward to secure the dead one, a male, another dropped apparently out of the tree under which he had knelt to fire the shot. That same morning he saw Blue-bucks in four different trees. The boer-boon tree above mentioned rose from the ground at an angle of about 50°, but the Blue-buck were not on the main trunk, but amongst the smaller branches. I regret that an accident had prevented me from being with m y brother that day, as I had intended ; but he assures m e he will be able to point out the spot another day, when he is confident I shall an be eye-witness of this singular climbing feat. Perhaps it will not be out of place if I here make reference to the singular little Antelope which I shot in Nov. 1896, in the Kwawa district, Portuguese East Africa. The skull is still in Mr. Bowland Ward's hand, (the skin was unfortunately amongst the valuable trophies purloined inDelagoaBay by a notorious firm of " forwarding agents " ) , and was, at m y request, sent by him to Mr. Sclater for examination. It was pronounced to be " apparently that of a Blue-buck," but without the skin no definite conclusion 1 Farmers' bean-tree. |