in the higher as well as in the lower orders of animal life. An interesting incident was observed whilst Snipe-shooting at Claremont, near Durban, on the 1st November last. My pointer-dog started a young Reed-buck (Cervicapra arundinum), and immediately gave chase. The little buck was apparently but a few days old, and rushed off frantically in the long grass; but the dog soon gained ground, and was just about overtaking it, much to my regret, when the little buck, fearing capture, started bleating. This gave warning to the mother, who, watching us approach, had remained concealed in cover only eighteen inches in height. Immediately the bleating was heard, a fine doe Reed-buck rose within one hundred yards from us, and rushed off gallantly to rescue her young. The dog, not noticing the doe, was in hot pursuit, and within a yard or two of the little fawn, which in a few moments must have fallen to its pursuer. The doe now rushed at full speed, answering her little one's call in a deep guttural note, and, on overtaking the dog, deliberately jumped over it, and whilst in the air kicked out with her hind legs. The dog fell, but whether from fright or through being kicked over—probably the latter—I was unable to detect; however, be that as it may, the dog was so startled at such an incident that he immediately pulled up, and stood staring in wonderment, whilst the mother proudly cantered off with her young, a sight that any sportsman would delight to see.
Strange Messmates.— In October last I had occasion to watch a pair of Black Saw-winged Swallows (Psalidoprocne holomelæna), in order to discover their nest, and was soon rewarded by seeing one of the birds suddenly disappear in the ground carrying grass. On approaching I found a deserted hole of an Ant-bear,[1] into which the Swallow had gone. These birds frequent the holes of Ant-bears in preference to an embankment when nesting, and the reason may be readily understood when it is seen what protection is thus afforded against their many enemies. Having observed that the bird was then only constructing its nest, I decided to revisit the spot shortly afterwards, when, to my surprise, I found that the Ant-bear had returned home to his old haunt, taking up his abode inside. The ground being much disturbed, with the hole partly closed, it struck me
- ↑ Ardvaark (Orycteropus capensis).
