NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



of its environment has diverged so considerably 

 in its markings from its progenitors that naturahsts 

 were justified in making a distinct species of it. 



The Bontebok species may have come into exist- 

 ence through a Blesbok herd-bull being abnormal 

 in colour, and the herd subsequently confining its 

 range to the south-w^estern portion of the Cape 

 Province. 



The Bontebok differs from the Blesbok in the 

 following ways : 



(i) Horns are black. 



(2) Rump white. 



(3) Lower half of legs white both on outer and 

 inner sides. 



The Bontebok interbreeds freely with the Blesbok, 

 and the progeny are fertile. 



THE BLESBOK 



{Damaliscus albifrons) 



Ilinqua or Inoni of Amaxosa ; Noni of Bechuanas and Basutos. 



Blesbok is a South African Dutch word which 

 means " the buck with a white face." 



In the early days of the colonisation of South 

 Africa, the Blesbok inhabited the veld in vast numbers 

 in the north-eastern portions of the Cape Province, 

 the Orange Free State, Transvaal and the eastern 

 part of Bechuanaland. The northern limit of the 

 Blesbok is the Limpopo River. 



H 



