LESSER KUDU 349 



upwards and inwards, while the right grows almost perpendicularly 

 downward, each having four complete spiral turns. 



THE LESSER KUDU 



{Strepsiceros imberbis] 



Anderio, OR SOMETIMES Godir, SOMALI ; Gadains, GALLA ; Kungn, 

 SWAHILI ; Sara, ABYSSINIAN 



(PLATE xiii, fig. 2) 



An even more graceful and brightly coloured antelope than its 

 larger relative, the lesser kudu was named imberbis in the Proceedings 

 of the Zoological Society for 1869 by the Indian naturalist Edward 

 Blyth, in allusion to the absence of a tuft of long hair on the throat, 

 which forms one of its chief characteristics. In addition to its inferior 

 size (shoulder-height about 41 inches) and this absence of a throat- 

 tuft, the species is distinguished from the true kudu by the presence 

 of two white bands on the throat, its narrower ears, and the greater 

 number (thirteen or fourteen) of stripes on the body. The general 

 colour is a rich rufous fawn, deeper even than in the southern race of 

 the greater kudu ; and the horns of the bucks are less divergent and 

 form a closer spiral than in the latter. The weight is about 230 lb., 

 and the record horn-length 35 j inches. 



The species is restricted to north-eastern Africa, where it ranges 

 from Somaliland to British and German East Africa. According to 

 Mr. J. D. Inverarity, lesser kudu are found in fair numbers along the 

 foot of the Golis range, and in the thick bush fringing the numerous 

 streams of the low ground of Somaliland in the neighbourhood of the 

 mountains. As a rule, they are to be found near water where the 

 jungle is dense, especially where there is a thick growth of aloe. In 

 making his way through jungle of this description, the sportsman is 

 apprised of the presence of his game by the sound of a loud bark and 

 a longer or shorter glimpse of a bright fawn hide with conspicuous 

 stripes. Indeed, these antelopes arc by no means shy, and will 

 frequently permit an approach within a few yards before they take 

 flight. They are not gregarious animals, a buck and doc, or four or 

 five does, being commonly seen in company. Young fawns arc to 

 be seen in November and December. 



As mentioned by Mr. K. I. Pocock in the paper cited under the 

 heading of the greater kudu, it is not a little remarkable that the lesser 



