TSESSEBE ANTELOPE OR BASTARD HARTEBEESTE 381 
Drawn from a specimen shot in Mashonaland by F. C. Selous. 
TSESSEBE ANTELOPE or BASTARD HARTEBEESTE 
(Damaliscus lunata). 
The Tsessebe has the reputation—in the opinion of all hunters who 
have tested its speed, a well-deserved one—of being the fleetest and 
most enduring quadruped to be found in all Southern Africa. If it 
were not, indeed, that this handsome antelope, in common with its near 
relative the hartebeeste, happens to be rather lacking in presence of 
mind, it would very seldom fall to the sportsman’s rifle. The Tsessebe 
is not difficult to circumvent. A troop can be often turned from its 
course, or brought to a halt, by firing a bullet or two over the heads of 
the fleeing beasts. Or if the leader of the troop can be wounded and 
turned out, the rest of the animals become confused, and now and again 
offer easy shots. Like the hartebeeste the Tsessebe has extremely 
drooping quarters. The skin of one of these antelopes, freshly killed, 
is very beautiful, the wonderful smoothness and the brilliant purplish 
bloom of the coat being very remarkable. 
WEIGHT about 300 lbs. HEIGHT at shoulder about 48 inches. 
Distribution—South-East Africa. Open country in territory adjacent 
to Limpopo River, Mashonaland, and westwards to Lake Ngami. 
G 
