THE ANTELOPES AND GAZELLES 131 



only where hair is usually found. The hoofs are 

 very elongated. This is, of course, a development 

 attributable to their marsh and water-loving habits. 

 Lech we are found, in addition to the river systems 

 of Ngamiland and Angola, on the Chobi, Upper 

 Zambesi, and other rivers, as far north as Lake 

 Bangweolo and Lake Mweru, Central Africa. Where 

 they have not been much hunted, they are to be found 

 about the flooded plains and lagoons in very large 

 numbers, and hundreds are speared by natives, who, 

 paddling about in boats, drive them into deep water. 

 The flesh is fairly good eating certainly much better 

 than that of the larger waterbucks. 1 



The Pookoo or Puku (Cobus vardoni) is another 

 handsome kob, found in Barotseland (Lewanika's 

 kingdom), British Central Africa, about Lake Bang- 

 weolo, and as far north even as the Congo Free 

 State, where it has been met with in the Luwule valley. 

 Reddish yellow in colour, with very rufous fore-legs, 

 the pookoo is distinguishable from the lechwe by its 

 longer and somewhat curling coat, its lighter form, 

 and its smaller horns, which measure, in picked 

 specimens, not more than 20^ inches. Enormous 

 herds are to be found in the Lake Mweru and 

 Luapula river countries. The flesh is very un- 

 palatable. 



Others of the lesser waterbucks, or kobs, are the 



1 Within the last year or two a dark-coated form of Lechwe (Cobus smitkemani) 

 has been discovered by Mr. Frank Smitheman near Lake Mweru. Instead of 

 the usual reddish-yellow colouring, this species carries a rich, dark-brown coat, 

 with nearly black markings, contrasting very notably with the spotless white 

 underparts. 



VOL. II K 



