158 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



glands beneath the eyes, the ears have black tips ; horns 

 are stout, with a slight forward and outward curve at the 

 base, and with the tips directed forwards, strongly ringed 

 for the greater part of their length. 



The puku stands a couple of inches or so less at the 

 shoulder than the lechwe (about thirty-nine inches), and 

 is of stout build. It extends from the Zambezi through 

 Northern Rhodesia as far as Lake Mweru. 



It is less aquatic in habit than the lechwe, and approaches 

 in this respect rather to the waterbuck, being found close 

 to, but not in, the water. Where numerous, the species 

 is found congregated in large herds, and a dozen years 

 ago they were to be seen in great numbers on the swampy 

 plains bordering the Kafue River in north-west Rhodesia. 



THE UGANDA COB. This is a local variety of the 

 typical Buffon's Cob, and its range extends from the 

 southern shores of Lake Victoria through Uganda. It is 

 found associated in very large herds, and in appearance 

 and size approaches rather closely to the puku. 



Uganda cobs are fond of open rather swampy plains in 

 the neighbourhood of rivers or permanent water. I found 

 them in great numbers near Kabulamuliro in Uganda, in 

 a spot where, the swamp grass having been burned, the 

 young shoots were coming up fresh and green. They 

 were very unsuspicious animals and allowed approach to 

 sixty or seventy yards, without any necessity whatever 

 for concealment. When they did make off, it was only 

 for a distance of a hundred yards or so, when they would 

 stop and recommence feeding. The rams seemed to like 

 climbing on to the top of the numerous large ant-heaps 

 which studded the plain, whence they could have a good 

 view of the surrounding country. A herd was very often 

 accompanied by a single bohor reedbuck, which, grazing 

 slightly apart, always appeared very much more on the 



