ROAN ANTELOPE 295 



THE ROAN ANTELOPE 



{^Hippotragiis eqiiimis) 



Bastard Gemsbok, Orange River Colony Dutch ; Bastard Eland, 

 Transvaal Dutch ; Klabakila, Basuto ; Qtialata, Northern 

 Bechuana ; Tai-hait-da, SOUTHERN Bechuana ; Ee-taka, 

 Amandebili ; Ee-pala-pala Chena, Makalaka ; Iinpengo Eetuba, 

 Masubia ; U-ka-muh-ive, Makoba ; Mtagatsi, SWAZI AND 

 Zulu ; Kzvar, Masara Bushmen ; Ipewa, Chilala and 

 Chibisa ; Kaivalata AND Etselta, Ngami ; Qualata AND Tseu, 

 Barotsi ; Gzvenki, Hausa ; Abu oruff, DiNKA ; Abu aruf, 

 Sudani ; IVanderbi, Abyssinian. 



(Plate xii, figs. 6 and 7) 



Although considerably exceeding its sable relative in the matter of 

 bodily size (its shoulder-height reaching as much as 4 feet 9 inches), 

 the roan antelope cannot compare in point of beauty with the former, 

 its colour not being of a striking or attractive type ; while its horns, 

 for so large an animal, are comparatively insignificant, the record length 

 being only 39^ inches, next to this coming a pair of 35 inches. 

 Nevertheless the present species is a magnificent animal, which in 

 respect of the face-markings appears to be, as already mentioned, more 

 specialised than the sable antelope. 



As a roan antelope cannot possibly be mistaken for any other 

 species, it will be unnecessary, so far as description goes, to do more 

 than point out some of the leading features by which it is distinguished 

 from its darker relative. The superior height and smaller horns of the 

 present species have been already mentioned ; in addition, there is the 

 colour of the coat, which in the typical race is a grizzled roan, although 

 in the eastern race it becomes sandy or reddish fawn, while in the 

 western race it is of a decidedly dark red. The mane, too, is shorter, 

 while the ears are considerably longer, and the white eye-tufts bigger 

 and more pronounced. Perhaps, however, the most important dis- 

 tinctive characteristic of the species is to be found in the practical 

 disappearance of the gazelle-like face-markings of the sable antelope, 

 which are represented solely by the aforesaid white eye-tuft, although 

 occasionally there may be likewise a white streak behind the eye. 

 Then, again, the whole of the muzzle is white, whereas in the sable 

 antelope the only white portions are formed by the terminations of the 



