ORDER ARTIODACTYLA I EVEN-TOED UNGULATES 643 



SYNONYM: Bubalis bubastis Blaine (1914). 



FIGS.: Schreber, Saugthiere, pi. 277B.. 1787; Geoffrey and Cuvier, Hist. Nat. 

 Mamm., vol. 6, pi. 390, 1824; Schinz, Naturg. Saugethiere, ed. 2, pi. 126, 

 1827; Wood, Bible Animals, p. 145, fig., 1876; Sclater and Thomas, 1894, 

 vol. 1, pi. 1; Bryden, 1899, pi. 4, fig. 1; Ward, 1935, p. 47, fig.; Powell- 

 Cotton, 1937, pi. facing p. 65, lower fig. 



This Hartebeest is regarded by several authorities as extinct, 

 although a few others maintain that a bare remnant lingers on in the 

 hinterland of Algeria. 



"Colour uniform pale rufous or fawn . . . ; there is, however, 

 an ill-defined patch of greyish on each side of the muzzle above the 

 nostrils. . . . Tail black on the terminal tuft only." Height at 

 shoulder about 43 inches. Horns forming a U when viewed from 

 the front. (Sclater and Thomas, 1894, vol. 1, pp. 8-9.) Record 

 length of horns on front curve, 15^ inches (Ward, 1935, p. 43). 



The former range of the Bubal extended across North Africa from 

 Morocco to Egypt. There have also been reports, none too well 

 substantiated, from Arabia and Palestine. 



While this Hartebeest was long regarded as a distinct species, it is 

 treated by Ruxton and Schwarz (1929) as conspecific with various 

 other Hartebeests, ranging from Senegal and Gambia to the Anglo- 

 Egyptian Sudan, Somaliland, and Tanganyika Territory (cj. G. M. 

 Allen, 19396, pp. 470-474) . 



Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. In 1738 large herds were reported 

 on the north of the Atlas, but since then "the Bubal has retired 

 far beyond the Atlas into the recesses of the desert, and has become 

 a difficult animal to meet with" (Sclater and Thomas, 1894, vol. 1, 

 p. 9). 



In 1850 Barth encountered what may have been this Hartebeest 

 in the mountain region of Anahef, which lies in the central Sahara 

 at about latitude 23 15' N., longitude 8 E. He remarks (1857, 

 vol. 1, p. 263) : "The country ... is covered, as well as the whole 

 centre of the desert, with large herds of wild oxen (Antilope bubalis) 

 .... Our men tried to catch them, but were unsuccessful, the 

 animal . . . climbing the rocks with much more ease than men." 



According to Loche (1867) , it is found in Algeria only in the south ; 

 it occurs in fairly numerous bands in the mountainous parts of the 

 Sahara, the Souf, and the country of the Tuaregs. It appears much 

 rarer than the Addax in Algeria, and perhaps it is completely lack- 

 ing in Tunisia. (Lataste, 1885, p. 292.) 



The species was still found in 1870 in the mountains in the south 

 of Tunisia, on the Algerian frontier, but has now completely disap- 

 peared. Some individuals may perhaps still be found in the Saharan 

 mountains and in the Hammada between Bir-Aou'ine and Ghadames. 

 One was killed in 1902 at Bir-Ksira, 150 km. southwest of Foum- 

 Tatahouine. (Lavauden, 1924, p. 22; 1932, p. 21.) 



