APPENDIX. 243 



BUSHBUCK. 



Native Names. 



Swahili (Kimrima) .... Mbawara. Kinyamwezi Pongo. 



„ (Kimvita) .... Kungu. Kitaita Nguve. 



Kikuyu Swalika. Ogiek (Ravine) Poinet. 



Kikamba Ndwayia. Luganda Engabi. 



Kavirondo Ngao. Ogieg Embua (?). 



These animals are bush and forest dwelling animals, and are usually very shy, so that 

 they are interesting to hunt and stalk. They may often be seen out of cover just about 

 sunset, when they graze round the edge of the bush-belts, and also after rain, especially at 

 high altitudes. They come out presumably to escape the dripping of the trees and bushes 

 in cover. 



The male often passes obstacles in thick bush by laying back his horns and breaking 

 through or jumping over. The female and young push through and under obstacles. From this 

 pushing through and under bush they move in a peculiar crouching fashion with the forelegs 

 bent. Whilst feeding they go forward a few yards at a time, frequently raising the head to listen, 

 but keeping the legs and body crouched. Immediately on being alarmed they lope back 

 into cover. 



The femali! and young are of a bright rufus red with white spots or stripes, but the old male 

 has often lost his bright colour and white markings, and in the distance appears perfectly dark 

 or black. There is a variety of bushbuck found on the Ithanga and Doinyo Sapuk having a white 

 chevron on the nose [see photo, page 61). 



When on the look-out for spoor at the edge of the forest or bush you should follow round 

 the edge and take note of the game-paths leading out from the bush ; these will soon show you 

 if the animal is in the neighbourhood or not. 



The male bushbuck is often almost hare of hair about the neck or has only very short hairs 

 about that part with tin- skin showing through. This circular patch covered with short hair round 

 the neck is often distended or swollen. 



When a bushbuck sights anyone it will often utter a sharp, liard, raucous bark, provided that 

 it is standing at the time in thick cover. 



By following round just inside the edge of a forest or patch of bush you can sometimes spot 

 an animal out grazing and approach it unobserved. 



A smaller variety of the bushbuck is found on the shores of Lake .\lbert. It is a kind of 

 harnessed antelope and is covered with stripes instead of spots, and the horns are smaller and 

 often are close together at the tips. 



The bushbuck occurs in most bush and forest tracts of the country. On Ol Doinyo Sapuk 

 and the Ithanga Hills it is very common, also on the top of the Aberdares and again in the 

 bush on the foothills. It is plentiful on the coast-belt and in the Lainu .\rchipelago, at the 

 Ravine, Guas Ngishu, and in the Kamasia Hills. 



It is also common in the bushiest parts of Iganda, and occasionally in the long grass. The 

 animal has a very strong smell. 



