134 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. i. 



females and young, reddish brown, both sexes, having the body 

 decorated with eight or nine narrow white stripes. 



Strepsiceros imberbis (Blyth). 



Strepsiceros imberbis. Lesser Koodoo. Native name Arreh, 

 male; Adir-yu^ female. 



a. $ juv. Laferug. 



b. $ ad. Mandera. 

 c -d. $ juv. Mandera. 

 e.-h. 9 ad. Mandera. 



i. 9 ad. Hullier. 



The Lesser Koodoo is found at the base of the Golis, and in 

 Ogaden, being plentiful in the valle}' of the Shebeyleh river. 



This beautiful antelope, by far the handsomest of all those to 

 be found in Somali-land, dwells in the thick forest of thorn trees 

 where there is a heavy undergrowth of aloes, bearing red or yel- 

 low flowers about five feet above the ground. I have seen it 

 quite near the plains but never in the open. The head and neck 

 are spotted with white, and there are usually eleven to thirteen 

 white stripes around the body. The ears are very large, and the 

 horns of the male rise in a spiral, a miniature imitation of those 

 of the Big Koodoo. The Lesser Koodoo is a wary animal, and 

 is very skillful in concealing itself among the bushes, over which 

 it looks for a moment at an intruder upon its haunts, and then 

 goes bounding away over the bushes and intervening objects, in 

 the easiest and most graceful manner, more suggestive of flying 

 than any other kind of motion. 



Careful stalking and tracking are necessary to enable one to 

 get a favorable shot at one of these animals, and when he has 

 reached a suitable shooting distance one must be quick and not 

 linger upon his aim. This species goes in small herds of from 

 four to six, and it is not often that tAvo bucks are seen together. 

 There is a great difference in the coloring of the sexes, the bucks 

 being blue on head and neck, growing almost black with age, 

 while the does are brown as are also the young. At all ages the 

 body is decorated with numerous white stripes, which gives it a 

 very beautiful and striking effect. The Lesser Koodoo is grace- 

 fully formed and all its movements are very easy and attractive, 

 while it is a most pleasing sight to witness one, with head and 

 tail erect, flying at full speed over the bushes. Unlike many of 

 the other antelope, the Lesser Koodoo where once started is 

 rarely seen again, as it generally goes a considerable distance 



