WATER BUCK 195 



all African antelopes, in the shape of the well-known waterbuck and 

 its immediate relatives, all of v/hich are generally included in the 

 genus Cobus. The members of this genus, together with the vaal 

 rhebok, belong to a subfamily of large or medium -sized African 

 antelopes typified by the reedbucks {Cervicapra), and hence known 

 as the Cervicaprince. All have the muzzle naked, the face -glands 

 rudimentary or wanting, the tail of moderate length, the lateral hoofs 

 well developed, and the horns confined to the male sex. The upper 

 cheek-teeth are of a narrow, sheep-like type, and the second pair of 

 lower incisors has expanded crowns. Pits for the reception of face- 

 glands are wanting in the skull. In form the long or medium-sized 

 horns of the bucks are never twisted, but are generally curved back- 

 wards at the bases, where they are strongly ridged, after which they 

 curve upwards and forwards to the smooth tips ; they may, however, 

 have a sinuous flexure or be perfectly straight. 



The waterbucks and kobs, which include the largest species, may 

 be distinguished from the other members of the subfamily by their 

 long and somewhat lyrate horns, the straight and frequently coarse fur, 

 the absence of a bare patch below the ears, the rudimentary face- 

 glands, the long and slightly tufted tail, and the full development of 

 the lateral hoofs. In the skull the bones forming the extremity of 

 the upper jaw (premaxilla;) extend upwards and backwards to join 

 the nose-bones (nasals), and there are deep pits in the forehead. In 

 the case of the waterbucks, at any rate, the females have four teats. 



The waterbucks, which are large species, with the hair grizzled 

 and the neck maned, form the typical group of the genus. 



The kobs, on the other hand, which are smaller, with the hair, at 

 least in females and immature bucks, rufous, and the neck devoid of 

 a mane, constitute the subgenus Adcnota. 



The waterbuck, which stands from 43 to 48 inches at the shoulder 

 and may weigh as much as 360 lb. clean, is sufficiently characterised 

 by the large white elliptical ring on the rump from which it takes 

 its specific title. The general colour is a grizzled grey roan, but the 

 face is browner and the forehead rufous, while there is a white streak 

 in front of each eye, as well as a white area round the muzzle and on 

 the lower lip, and a large white patch on the throat. The inner side 

 of the large and rounded ears is also white, but the outer surfaces of 

 these appendages are brown, as are likewise the legs, although their 

 shade is darker. Brown is also the colour of the tail, which terminates 

 in a medium-sized tuft barely reaching the hocks. Everywhere the 

 coarse hair is long and more or less shaggy, but it is especially so on 



