LONNBERG, MAMMALS. 51 



ein oiler zwei schwachere weisse Flecke auf den Vorderkeulen. The name itidtssdicufi 

 cannot on this account be put in connection with these specimens. 



The authors of the Book of Antelopes* point out the great variability of the 



Bushbucks of East Africa which they term Tragelaphus roualeyni. There is a great 

 need of more material before the question concerning the different varieties of this 

 animal can by fully solved, whether there are several geographic races or only indi- 

 vidual varieties. The material at hand is not sufficient, especially because most of 

 the specimens are too }-oimg. It may, however, be possible that specimens a, b, c 

 and d represent a somewhat darker, chestnut, race with fewer white markings and 

 no transversal stripes in the adult. Specimens e and / are somewhat lighter but may 

 nevertheless belong to the same series. Specimen g is more doubtful it might represent 

 a lighter more rufous race with more numerous white spots and several transverse 

 stripes more or less developed. It agrees on the whole with the description of the 

 female of NEUMANN'S Tragelaplius dama from Kavirondo at the eastern side of Victoria 

 Nyanza. NEUMANN'S dama has not, however, any vertical stripes (Keine weissen 

 Horizontal- oder Vertical-Striche, 1. c. p. 97). If T. dama really is a constant race 

 it is quite possible that this rufous Bush bock from Merit is an allied variety. 



The darker specimens cannot be counted to the same, nor can they for rea- 

 sons stated above be referred to the race which NEUMANN called massaicus. It is 

 possible that they might be included into the compound of different geographic forms 

 which has been termed with a common name Tragelaph H,S roualeyni. They belong, 

 however, certainly not to the same race as that which originally was named so, even 

 if it is difficult to determine which Bushbuck rightly may carry that name. It is 

 most probable as NEUMANN has hinted (1. c. p. 98) that there are still several forms 

 of Bushbucks to be described from different parts of Africa, even if I cannot agree 

 with him when he calls such forms Arten nor when he expresses his disbelief in the 



Variation in der Art unter sich. On the contrary I believe that the variation is 

 rather great among the Bushbucks. But I think that this variation has been centra- 

 lized so to say in certain districts so that within certain geographical limits more or 

 less distinct subspecies have been developed. Such geographic subspecies are now known 

 in great numbers among some animals but are fewer in other groups. I think that the 

 genus Tragelaphus l belongs to the former category and that NEUMANN'S quoted T. 

 massaicus is such a geographic race which has its home in Irangi and surrounding 

 districts. Another geographic subspecies of corresponding nature I regard to be repre- 

 sented by the dark specimens described above. Although our knowledge at present 

 concerning the Bushbucks is not sufficient to prove anything with full certainty it 

 appears to me to be the correctest way to place this Bushbuck from the Meru- 

 Kilimandjaro district as a subspecies under Tragelaphus sylvalicus SPAREMAN and it 

 is thus proposed to call it Tragelaphus sylvaticus meruensis. The specimen a described 

 above may be regarded as the type for the male and the specimen d as the type for 

 the female of this geographic subspecies. 



1 Concerning the different forms of Trui/cldplnnf see NEMIANN 1. c. and I.II.NNIIEIC; On the Harnessed 

 Antelo]ii's iif the Cameron territory etc. Ark. f. zool. I5d 2. 1905. 



