2i2 ANTELOPES 



colour, and larger in size, with blunter ridges, than those of the typical 

 race. 



The range of this race extends from Kavirondo to Uganda. These 

 antelopes associate in herds of from 30 to 50, in which the females 

 are about five to one as compared with the males. 



The name Cobus (Adenota) mengesi has been proposed by Mr. 

 O. Neumann, Zool. Jalirbuch Systemat., vol. xiii. p. 560, 1900, for a 

 supposed South Somali representative of the species, but further in- 

 formation is required before this name can be accepted. 



The finest head of the typical race, in which the horns measure 

 2 1 inches, was obtained in Nigeria by Lady Constance Stewart 

 Richardson in 1907. In the Uganda race the record horn-length is 

 24^ inches. 



Writing of the typical western race, Major A. J. Arnold observes 

 that in the Benue valley it is common enough " for its skin to be an 

 article of export, and many thousands are obtained yearly by the 

 native Mitchi and shipped to Europe. The trade appears to have 

 been going on for years without any diminution of the herds, which 

 are very large and numerous. Herds of several thousands may be 

 seen feeding amongst the low-lying swampy plains of the Benue ; and 

 in this respect it is the only antelope which in West Africa reminds 

 one of the stories of the South and East African herds in the early 

 days of exploration. 



"Though by no means confining their feeding to the succulent 

 shoots of marshy grass, these antelopes are rarely found far from the 

 swampy marshes of the big rivers. They may wander browsing over 

 intervening stony ridges from one large tract of marsh-land to another, 

 and 'may in the wet season even lie on the drier upper slopes, but as 

 a rule they prefer the swamps, or rather the flat low ground which is 

 a swamp in the rains and dry in the dry season. When the latter 

 season has been running a month or so, these swamps become dried 

 up, the grass burnt, and the ground baked as hard as a rock ; but 

 soon short grass shoots up, and the kobs then confine themselves 

 almost entirely to the flats, lying, after feeding, in compact bodies as 

 far as possible from the edge of the surrounding bush. They do not 

 appear to trouble about shade even at mid-day, but lie out in the full 

 glare of the sun on the hard-baked ground, which is often hot enough 

 to scorch the feet of the natives. 



"In hunting the kob when herding together, the difficulty is to 

 get within shot. When feeding, they scatter a little, and it is then 

 more often possible to get within range of an outlying party containing 



