THE ANTELOPES 



2 55 



horned Antelope, we find 



several forms of the smaller 



bushbucks recognised by 



naturalists: viz. the HAR- 

 NESSED ANTELOPE of the 



forest regions of Western 



Africa; the CAPE BuSHBUCK 



of South Africa ; CUMMING'S 



BUSHBUCK of Eastern Africa; 



and the DECULA BUSHBUCK 



of Abyssinia. The various 



forms of bushbuck vary in 



general colour from verydark 



brown to various shades of 



grey-brown, yellow-brown, 



and rich red. In all species 



the young are more or less 



striped and spotted ; but 

 whereas in some forms the 



adultanimalslose theirstripes 



and spots almost entirely, in 



others the adults are more 

 richly marked than immature 

 specimens. Formypartjam 

 inclined to believe that, if 

 largeseries of bushbuck-skins 

 were collected from every 

 district throughout Africa, it 

 would be found that all the 

 varieties of this animal at 

 present accepted as distinct 

 species would be found to 

 grade into one another in 

 such a way that only one true 

 species could be recognised. 



The bushbucks vary in height at the shoulder from 28 inches to 33 inches, and only the 

 males carry horns, which are nearly straight, with a close spiral twist, and measure in adult 

 animals from 10 inches to 18 inches in length. 



Bushbucks are not found in open country, but live in forest or thick bush near the 

 bank of a river, stream, or lake, and are never met with far from water. They are very 

 partial to wooded ravines amongst broken, mountainous country, provided such districts are well 

 watered; and are very solitary in their habits, both males and females being usually found 

 alone, though the latter are often accompanied by a kid or half-grown animal. They are shy 

 and retiring, and should be "looked for between daylight and sunrise, or late in the evening, as 

 they are very nocturnal in their habits, and lie concealed in long grass or thick bush during the 

 heat of the day. Their call resembles the bark of a dog, and may often be heard at nights. 



The BROAD-HORNED ANTELOPE is only found in the forests of the West African coast range, 

 from Liberia to Gaboon. The male of this species is a very handsome animal, standing about 

 43 inches at the withers, and is a bright chestnut-red in general colour, with a white spinal 

 stripe extending from the withers to the root of the tail, and fourteen or fifteen wh.te stripes 

 on the shoulders, flanks, and hindquarters. The ears are large and rounded, and the horns very 

 massive, and about 30 inches in length, measured over the single spiral twist. 



by S. G. Tayne, Ajltsbury, by firmission of I hi Han. Walttr Rothschild 



GERENUK 



A gazelle-like antelope -with long neck and legs, inhabiting North-east Africa 



