ORDER ARTIODACTYLA : EVEN-TOED UNGULATES 707 



Matschie (Deutsche Jager-Zeitung, vol. 59, p. 119, 1912; based 

 upon a specimen from the Caprivi, between the Chobi and the 

 Zambesi) is available. Sable are fairly numerous in the Caprivi 

 (Shortridge, 1934, vol. 2, p. 578) and plentiful in southeastern Angola 

 (Varian, in Maydon, 1932, p. 379) . 



The South African Sable (H. n. niger (Harris) 1 ) is numerous in 

 the Kruger National Park, but very scarce elsewhere in the Trans- 

 vaal. In Southern Rhodesia it is "common all over the country" and 

 "in no danger of extermination" (Game Warden, Wankie Game 

 Reserve, in litt., March, 1937) . 



The East African Sable (H. n. roosevelti (Heller) 2 ) occupies a 

 coastal strip in Kenya and Tanganyika Territory, from the vicinity 

 of Mombasa south to the Kigani River opposite Zanzibar Island. 

 It occurs in very moderate numbers, but receives some protection and 

 apparently is not decreasing rapidly. 



Many herds of Sable are reported in southern Tanganyika Terri- 

 tory, and a few herds in the western part (Annual Rept. Game Dept., 

 1932) . Whether these represent roosevelti, kirkii, or some unde- 

 scribed form, has not been determined.] 



Giant Sable Antelope; Angolan Sable Antelope. Hippotrague 

 noir <T Angola (Fr.) 



HIPPOTRAGUS VARIANI Thomas 



Hippotragus niger variant Thomas, Abstr. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, no. 151, 

 p. 1, 1916. ("Luando River, Angola.") 



FIGS.: Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1916, p. 299, fig. 1; Elaine, 1922, 

 pis. 1, 5A; P. N. Gray, 1930, pis. facing pp. 3, 30; Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila- 

 delphia, 1930 Year Book, p. 6, fig.; Maydon, 1932, pis. 120, 124, 127; 

 Field Mus. News, vol. 3. no. 4, p. 1, fig., 1932; P. N. Gray, 1933, frontisp., 

 pi. facing p. 103; Curtis, 1933, pi. facing p. 237; Ward, 1935, p. 203, fig.; 

 Pocock, 1937, p. 673, fig. 



This finest of African antelopes occupies a very limited range in 

 Angola, and its total population amounts probably to only a few 

 hundred individuals. Its horns fetch an exceptionally high price as 

 trophies, and in recent years it has been sorely pressed by the 

 natives in meeting this demand. The great need of safeguarding its 

 future is thoroughly recognized, and it ranks as a Class A species 

 under the London Convention of 1933. 



Color of male above intense glossy black; under parts and inside 

 of thighs white 3 ; forehead and foreface wholly black, but a faint 



1 Aiffocerus niger Harris, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1838, p. 2, 1838. ("On the 

 northern side of the Cashan [now the Magaliesberg] range of mountains, about 

 a degree and a half south of the tropic of Capricorn" [now in the Rustenburg 

 district, Transvaal].) 



2 Ozanna roosevelti Heller, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 56, pt. 4, p. 1, 1910. 

 ("Shimba Hills, British East Africa.") 



s The white does not extend to the front of the thigh as in H. niger niger. 



