THE WATER BUCK, LICHI, ETC 891 



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Formerly rietboc were to be met with throughout central South 

 dH b't Africa, wherever there are open grassy or reedy valleys traversed by 

 streams, but they are now practically exterminated in Bechuanaland , 

 and rare in the Transvaal, although still common in many districts, such as the 

 Chobe region. They generally associate in pairs, and it is seldom that more than 

 three or four individuals (of which one or two will be young) are seen together, al- 

 though sometimes as many as eight may be observed feeding within a short distance 

 of one another. Mr. Selous mentions that " although the reedbuck is never found 

 far from water, it always keeps on dry ground, and when chased I have never seen 

 one take to boggy ground, but have noticed that rather than cross a narrow stream 

 of water they will make a long detour." Indeed, when hunted these antelopes will 

 invariably seek refuge in bush, or by flight into the open dry country. The males, 

 if suddenly frightened, sometimes utter a whistling sound. In pace this species is 

 slow, and it is one of the easiest of African antelopes to stalk. 



The South- African antelope known as the roi rheeboc (C. lalandi), 

 which, by the way, must not be confounded with the true or vaal rhee- 

 "boc, is a smaller but nearly-allied species, standing only about twenty-eight inches 

 at the shoulder. It has long and coarse reddish-brown hair on the upper parts, 

 while beneath it is white. The horns are seldom more than eight or nine inches in 

 length, and bend forward in a sharp sweep, without any outward inclination. The 

 West- African nagor (C. redunca) is closely allied to, if not identical with, this 

 species; the coloration being similar, and the small horns not usually exceeding six 

 inches in length. The other representative of the genus is the bohor (C. bohor), ex- 

 tending in East Africa from Abyssinia to Masailand; it is a larger and brighter- 

 colored animal than the last, from which it is also, distinguished by certain charac- 

 teristics of the skull. 



WATER BUCK, LICHI, ETC. 

 Genus Cobus 



The antelopes included in the genus Cobus are water-loving animals, generally 

 of larger size than the rietboc, and associating in herds. Their horns are long, 

 sublyrate, and ringed nearly throughout; the tail is longer than the rietboc, and 

 tufted at the end. As in the latter, the gland below the eye is rudimentary, 

 and the color, with the exception of some patches on the rump and the head is 

 uniform. The muzzle is naked. The skull may be distinguished from that of 

 Cervicapra by the premaxillary bones reaching upward to join the nasals. 



The water buck ( C. ellipsiprymnus} stands upward of four feet or 

 more at the withers, and is characterized by its long and very coarse 

 hair, which varies in color from reddish brown to dark gray, with an oval ring of 

 white on the buttocks, extending above the tail, a white gorget on the throat, a 

 streak of the same color on part of each eye, and some white near the muzzle. Good 

 horns average about twenty-eight inches along the curve, but they may measure 

 thirty, thirty-one, or even thirty-three and one-half inches; their color is pale. 



