ELAND 305 



Eland, the equivalent of the German elend or elentJiier and the 

 Scandinavian elk, was the name applied by the early Dutch settlers to 

 the biggest ruminant animal, other than buffalo and giraffe, they 

 encountered in their new home. So far as bodily characteristics are 

 concerned, there is little in common between the African animal and 

 its European prototype, which latter, by the way, the emigrants had 

 probably never seen in their lives. Since, however, all the above 

 names are connected with the Greek eA/cu?, signifying strength, there is 

 a certain accidental appropriateness in the application of the designa- 

 tion of the biggest European deer to the largest African antelope. 



The range of the eland originally included the whole of southern 

 Africa from Cape Agulhas to the Zambesi, while it also embraces 

 Angola, and extends along the eastern side of the continent as far 

 north as the Tana river. 



In height adult bulls are known to stand 5 feet 9 inches at the 

 shoulder, while in some cases they may perhaps reach as much as 

 6 feet, but statements as to the existence of elands of 6^ feet in height 

 are doubtful. 



The record horn-length for bull eland is 37 inches, in a Barotsi- 

 land specimen ; next to which comes one of 34^ inches from British 

 Central Africa. Of cows, the three longest pairs of horns respectively 

 measure 41, 39^, and 36 inches. In the second of these, at any rate, 

 the horns have scarcely any twist, and are somewhat sabre -like in 

 shape, with a distinct triangular section. 



Like most African animals with an extensive geographical range, 

 the eland is subject to a considerable amount of local variation ; and 

 upon such differences the following local races have been named. 



Firstly, we have the typical southern race, Taiirotragus oryx 

 typicus, in which the whole body and limbs is pale fawn or cream, 

 without white stripes on the body, white chevron on the forehead, dark 

 knee-bands, or dorsal stripe. The face of old bulls is wholly brown, 

 with a large " bush " of blackish-brown hair on the forehead ; while in 

 the cows the middle line of the face is brown, with the sides paler. 

 Calves are similar in colour to the adults. 



Although extinct in Cape Colony (the type locality), this race, 

 according to Mr. F. C. Selous, survives in the South Kalahari desert, 

 and in East Africa apparently extends about as far north as lat. 2f S. 

 — that is to say, Matabililand. 



North of lat. 23° S., according to the same observer, certain 

 individuals in a herd show more or less distinct white body-stripes and 

 dark knee-bands, thus passing into — 



X 



