THE ANTELOPES 



229 



horned Antelope, we find 

 several forms of the smaller 

 bushbucks recognised by 

 naturalists: viz. the HAR- 

 NESSED Antelope of the 

 forest regions of Western 

 Africa; the CAPE BUSHB1 CK 

 of South Africa; CUMMING'S 

 BuSHBUCKof Eastern Africa; 

 and the DECULA BUSHBUCK 

 of Abyssinia. The various 

 forms of bushbuck vary in 

 general colour from very dark 

 brown to various shades of 

 grey-brown, yellow-brown, 

 and rich red. In all species 

 the young are more or less 

 striped and spotted ; but 

 whereas in some forms the 

 adult animals lose theirstripes 

 and spots almost entirely, in 

 others the adults are more 

 richly marked than immature 

 specimens. For my part, I am 

 inclined to believe that, if 

 largeseries of bushbuck-skins 

 were collected from every 

 district throughout Africa, it 

 would be found that all the 

 varieties of this animal at 

 present accepted as distinct 

 species would be found to 

 grade into one another in 

 such a way that only one true 

 species could be recognised. 



The bushbucks van- in height at the shoulder from 28 inches to 33 inches, and only the 

 males carry horns, which are nearly straight, with a close spiral twist, and measure in adult 

 animals from 10 inches to 18 inches in length. 



Bushbucks are not found in open country, but live in forest or thick bush near the 

 bank of a river, stream, or lake, and are never met with far from water. They are very 

 partial to wooded ravines amongst broken, mountainous country, provided such districts are well 

 watered ; and are very solitary in their habits, both males and females being usually found 

 alone, though the latter are often accompanied by a kid or half-grown animal. They are shy 

 and retiring, and should be looked for between daylight and sunrise, or late in the evening, as 

 they are very nocturnal in their habits, and lie concealed in long grass or thick bush during the 

 heat of the day. Their call resembles the bark of a dog, and may often be heard at nights. 



The Br< >ai i-iii iRNED ANTEL( >PE is only found in the forests of the West African coast range, 

 from Liberia to Gaboon. The male of this species is a very handsome animal, standing about 

 43 inches at the withers, and is a bright chestnut-red in general colour, with a white spinal 

 stripe extending from the withers to the root of the tail, and fourteen or fifteen white stripes 

 on the shoulders, flanks, and hindquarters. The ears are large and rounded, and the horns very 

 massive, and about 30 inches in length, measured over the single spiral twist. There are two or 



Photo by S. G. I 



.-/>.* &Mr/, by ptrmission of tht Hon. If'alltr Rothschild 



GEKENUK 



A gazelle-like antelope 'with long neck and lcgs t inhabiting North-east Africa 



J 



