708 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



trace of cheek stripes in some specimens; a buffy patch in front of 

 eye; lower part of cheeks, chin, and lips creamy buff; inside of ears 

 white, back tan; mane of soft, crimped black hairs, extending to 

 middle of back ; tail and tuft black, with reddish tan hairs along the 

 dorsal crest; side and back of hocks, and a stripe down back of 

 forelegs to fetlocks, deep tan; rest of legs black. Females golden 

 chestnut, under parts white; a blackish brown blaze down center of 

 face, flanked by indistinct cheek stripes; patch in front of eye, 

 inside of ears, and sides of jaws buffy white, paling to white on lips 

 and chin; mane blackish brown; tail-tuft deep brown. Young males 

 somewhat resembling females, but with face black as in old males. 

 Horns of male rising perpendicularly and curving backwards in an 

 arc; usually a wide outward sweep toward the tips; laterally com- 

 pressed and strongly annulated, except at tips; record length, 64 

 inches. Horns of females shorter and less curved. Height of adult 

 male at shoulder, 55^ inches; of adult female, 47 inches. (Elaine, 

 1922, pp. 319-320.) 



"This splendid Antelope, so far the finest in all Africa" (Elaine, 

 1922, p. 317) , was perhaps the last species of the African big game 

 mammals remaining to be described. The type, secured by H. F. 

 Varian in 1913, was named by Thomas in 1916. Though closely 

 related to the Sable Antelopes of South and East Africa, it is suffi- 

 ciently distinct in size, color, skull characters, and range to rank as 

 a separate species, rather than subspecies. 



Elaine's account (1922, pp. 320-324) is, in part, as follows: 



The Angolan Sable Antelope is found in the strip of country enclosed by 

 the upper waters of the Quanza River and its eastern tributary the Luando, 

 and it is also said on good authority to occur between that river and its 

 western tributary the Kutatu .... I procured all my specimens . . . some 70 

 miles southeast beyond the junction of the Quanza and Luando. The distance 

 between these two rivers is about 30 miles, with a low, flat, ironstone ridge 

 forming the divide .... The Sable here are mostly found on the Luando side 

 of the watershed where several streams rise, such as the Luce, the Kaluando, 

 the Dunde, and the Lusinge .... 



The numbers in a herd vary from eight to twenty individuals, about half 

 of them being bulls. ... In a small herd there is usually only one big 

 black bull. . . . 



In this country they have few natural enemies, such as lions or wild dogs. . . . 



They [the adult bulls] are also covered with several kinds of ticks, which 

 are very numerous on the neck and shoulders, where the hair is worn thin in 

 consequence. The younger bulls had fewer ticks and the cows fewer still. . . . 



In conclusion, one is glad to remark that there is no reason why this splendid 

 Antelope should not continue long to exist in its present environment. During 

 three months spent in the locality I must have seen at least 100 individuals, 

 forming several strong and flourishing herds, and measures have been taken 

 by the Portuguese Government, at the instigation of Mr. Varian, to protect 

 them. 



