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Show 1895.1 ANTELOPES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 359 flesh is coarse and rank, and I think none but natives would eat it for choice. THE LESSER REEDBUCK. Cervicapra lalandii. Swazi: Njala or fhlangu matse. This second name signifies the " Reedbuck of the Rocks." Nothing could better describe its haunts, which are always on the hill-sides, and not in the creeks. The Colonial and Boer name for this animal is always the Rooi Rbebok. It is common in the De Kaap district, in pairs or small parties of some four or five individuals. Always wary, and frequenting the bare mountainsides, it is hard to shoot. Its flesh is excellent, as I can testify. THE BUSHBUCK. Tragelaphus sylvaticus. Zulu and Swazi : Inkonka c?, Imbabala §. Shangaan : Shomo. This graceful antelope is to be found in many of the wooded kloofs of the D e Kaap district. The adult male are very dark in colour compared with the chrome-yellow of the female. The white spots appear to have a similar arrangement in both sexes. The neck of the male is nearly devoid of hair. The buck, at bay or wounded, is really dangerous, with its sharp, strong, straight horns; a Swazi of ours had two large dogs killed in as many minutes by an animal which they attacked together. It is difficult, even with a systematic beat, to drive this antelope from cover, as it doubles and dodges till the last moment. The thickly wooded beds of streams are often chosen by them as a habitat. At night I have frequently heard their sharp hoarse bark, emitted, I believe, only by the males. THE INYAEA. Tragelaphus angasi. The Dutch call this animal the Bastard Koodoo. I got a good series of horns of this rare animal from the River Iembe, which runs into the south side of Delagoa Bay. I know of it from no other locality. THE PALLAH. JEpyceros melampus. Shangaan: Impaya. This beautiful antelope w e found in great abundance between the Sabi and Krokodil Bivers, often in herds numbering some hundreds, in the belt of country infested by the tsetse fly. In March the females and their half-grown young were in separate herds from the males, which were always in troops distinct from one another. Their skins at this period of the year were at their best, the two shades of brown being very distinct. They formed the principal food of the lions which were plentiful in this district, and we were constantly coming across their remains. Acting as scouts they often prevented our getting shots at larger game wThich we were busy stalking. Most |
