Logo
Prev
Bookmark
Rotate
Print
Next
Contents
All Pages
Related Articles
Browse Issues
Help
Search
Home
'
National Geographic : 1950 Mar
Contents
The National Geographic Magazine One of the most plentiful and certainly one of the most graceful of the antelopes I saw in Africa was the impala, or palla (Aepyceros melampus). We saw thousands of these sleek, graceful animals, which reminded me of small deer or large gazelles. Some herds numbered a hundred or more (pages 360, 361). These small, lissome antelopes have glossy reddish-brown coats shading to white on their bellies. The rams have fine long lyrate-shaped horns, which they seem to delight tangling with playful opponents in mock battles (page 354). Both sexes have a characteristic narrow black stripe diagonally marking each side of the rump. On occasions when we surprised a herd of impalas they seemed almost to take to the air to escape. Their long graceful leaps are amaz ing. A ranger in South Africa with whom I talked had measured three successive leaps of one animal which spanned 26, 16, and 28 feet! Babes of the antelope tribe are the tiny dik-dik, duiker, and the steenbok. They range in height from 12 inches to perhaps 24 inches at the shoulder and are remarkably well-proportioned and alert. The little steenbok, or steinbok (Raphiceros campestris), particularly seems not to have grown up to his wide sensitive ears (page 371). Come upon one on the trail and he's off like a frightened hare. Often, however, when a hundred yards away he stops quickly to look back. His senses and leg muscles are trigger-strained for instant action if danger still threatens. All these small animals travel separately, except during mating season when they are occasionally seen in pairs. Giraffes-Skyscrapers of the Animals Of all the beasts that roam the African bush I think I would award the giraffe first prize as a color photographic subject. These tallest of living animals seem born posers. They group themselves with long necks turned in the same direction, or they face each other so symmetrically that you feel they are trying to form a triumphal arch (page 359). When moving they are hardly graceful. They walk with jerky, stilted steps. Break ing into a run, they move their legs in lateral pairs like a pacing horse and their necks bob and sway, while their tails curl and twist like a propeller. Although seemingly ungainly in full retreat, they move rapidly and have been clocked at 35 miles an hour. Some of the old bulls are marked with deep chocolate-brown blotches with pale yellowish white interspaces. Most of the cows and younger bulls have chestnut-colored patches; a few are distinctly spotted blonds. The patterns on most giraffes, though irregu lar, have distinct even edges. But some have reticulated feather-edge patterns which look almost as if the animals had become suntanned while standing among fronds of ferns. The Buffalo Is a Bad Actor Among Africa's wild beasts the buffalo has perhaps the worst reputation as a bad actor. Elephants, lions, hippos, and even leopards usually leave man alone unless cornered or feel their young are in danger. Black rhinos usually charge. But the behavior of buffa loes is unpredictable. They may look at man with sleepy-eyed unconcern, turn and stampede if frightened, or charge with vicious fury. Seeing a herd of some 25 buffaloes grazing on a grassy hillside one day, I took off in company with a native for a clump of trees toward which the animals were moving. By using the concealing trees as a natural blind I thought I might succeed in getting a photo graph. As we reached the edge of the crescent shaped wooded area, I could just see the backs of the herd on the hill. I was about to seek an opening through the trees when a stir in the bush attracted my attention; I found myself staring point-blank into the faces of another herd resting in the shade! Suddenly the whole bush erupted. There were loud snorts, a crash of branches, and a wild stampede. Out rushed 23 buffaloes, fol lowed by seven zebras. Fortunately they fled away from us; otherwise I might not have roamed more of Africa's unfenced zoos! Notice of change of address for your NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE should be received in the offices of the National Geographic Society by the first of the month to affect the following month's issue. For instance, if you desire the address changed for your May number, The Society should be notified of your new address not later than April first. Be sure to include your postal-zone number. 380
Links
Archive
1950 Apr
1950 Feb
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page