160 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



special attraction for collectors and sportsmen. They 

 are, in truth, magnificent trophies, and I suppose 

 more koodoo horns adorn English homes and English 

 halls than those of almost any other of the large 

 antelopes. The koodoo, with its great stature, a 

 good bull will stand as much as 5 feet at the withers, 

 splendid shape, noble carriage, and grand horns, 

 may be well called the very prince of antelopes. 

 Upon the whole, I think, to the koodoo male the 

 female is hornless may be awarded the palm over 

 all competitors for grandeur of aspect and general 

 beauty. In the opinion of the writer he surpasses 

 even the magnificent sable, the great roan, the 

 mighty eland, and the stately gemsbok. One of the 

 finest pairs of koodoo horns yet recorded measures 

 63 inches over the curve, 48^ inches straight, 

 and from tip to tip 49 inches. 1 These came from 

 the Macloutsi river, Khama's country. Singularly 

 enough, the second finest pair ever obtained by 

 Mr. Selous came from the same locality. I never 

 saw a more beautiful head than this it is absolutely 

 perfect. The horns measure 6of inches over the 

 curve, 45f inches straight, and 33 inches from tip to 

 tip. Koodoo horns vary a great deal in spread and 

 sweep. Some have the curve ascending directly 

 upwards ; these measure little between the points ; 

 others, again, branch widely outwards and have a 

 great span from tip to tip. A pair in my possession, 



1 Records of Big Game, Rowland Ward and Co. A head in the possession 

 of Mr. F. H. Barber measures 48! inches in a straight line, and one, shot by 

 Mr. Selous, 64 inches over the curve and 41 inches straight. 



