ROAN (HIPPOTRAGUS EQUINUS). 93 



ROAN (Hippotragus equinus). 



Native Names. 



Chinyanja Chilembwe. Zulu (Ngoni) . . Nturakamwa. 



Chiyao Mlembwe. Chibisa Mpelembe. 



Chikunda Ntuwakamwa. Chiwemba . . . Perembe. 



Food. 



Grass. 



Leaves of Mlaka Njobvu. 



Spoor. 



Considerably larger than that of sable. 



Habitat. 

 The roan Is the sable of the plains, always found in flat country, and never 

 ascends hills of any height. 



Habits. 



Found in herds or lone males. Feeds on the dambos morning and evening, and 

 retires to more shady country from about 9 to 10 a.m., according to the heat of the 

 sun, and it grazes in the open during the night. 



The old male of the herd has more bulk and generally a thicker neck than the 

 others, but, as a rule, it is difficult to select him till close, without the aid of glasses. 



There are often two males with a herd, in which case one will often walk in 

 front and the other behind. 



When they go into cover one of their number is sometimes left behind for a little, 

 so it should be carefully noted if they have all passed out of sight before following 

 them across the open. 



All game is very fond of salt, but the roan is particularly so, and the males will 

 stamp and dig up anthills with hoofs and horns to lick the salt earth. 



This breaks off the tips of their horns and wears them down blunt, so that no 

 male of any age is found with good horns or as long as those of the younger males. 



The females do not seem to use their horns for this purpose so much, and they are 

 generally intact, although occasionally a tip is broken off, perhaps from fighting. 



The males fight more than most buck, and the horns of all males are often 



