xxvii ANIMALS WHICH PROVIDE MEAT, ETC. 269 



certainly refute the argument that the periodical 

 migration is necessary for the preservation of the species. 

 Wildebeeste used to be excessively numerous in certain 

 seasons on the Athi plains. Mr. Buxton saw in 1900 

 a herd some miles long and containing many thousands. 

 Now there are but a few hundred. It is difficult to 

 know what has happened to them. They have not 

 suffered from disease, and have certainly not been shot 

 in our territory. It is to be hoped, though one cannot 

 be very sanguine, that they have merely retired into 

 the back regions of German East Africa. The horns 

 are measured in the same way as buffalo ; a fair 

 specimen would measure in this way 27 inches and a 

 fine one 29 inches. In addition to the localities already 

 mentioned there are a good many wildebeeste on the 

 Loieta plains and beyond to the German border ; also 

 on the Kapiti plains and at Simba. 



The Hartebeeste (Coke's, Jackson's and Neumann's) 

 is ubiquitous and is generally held in such detestation 

 that one must feel very doubtful of putting him in this 

 category as being of any use to the average settler. 

 My reason for doing so is the consideration that 

 without his carcase a large proportion of settlers would 

 so very frequently have gone hungry. Also his hide 

 is undoubtedly tough and useful. Coke's hartebeeste 

 is the variety that occurs south and east of the Rift 

 valley. It is considerably smaller than Jackson's, 

 weighing about 300 lb. as against more than 400 lb., 

 and is also of a lighter shade of khaki. Jackson's is 

 found north and west of the Rift valley. Neumann's 

 is a very local and intermediate variety, and no doubt 

 originated by the interbreeding of the two distinct 

 species. It occurs around Lake Solai, and in size, 

 colour, and shape of horns divides the characteristics 



