On some Lccal Forms r/CepIialoplius natalensis. 277 



Top of skull Hatter tliuii in L. aomalensis, in which tlie 

 supraorbital pUites are more arciied. 



I have named this fine species after Captain H. E. S. 

 ('ordeaux, ('.13., C.M.G., His Majesty's h\te Commissioner 

 and Commander-in-Chief for the iSomalihind Protectorate. 



XXX VI I. — Oti some Local Forms of Cephalophus natalensis. 

 By K. C. Wroughton. 



Iv identifying a specimen of the yiatalensis group of South- 

 African duikers, 1 had occasion to lay out all the specimens 

 of this group in the ^lusenra Collection ; it then became 

 abundantly evident that there are several will-markcd 

 geographical races. 



So far as I can ascertain, only two names have been given 

 in this gronj) south of IJritish East Africa, whence Mr. 

 Thomas has described hnnei/i ; these are robcrtsi, liothsch., 

 and vassei, Troness., both from the southern portion of 

 Portuguese East Africa. There are four specimens from this 

 area in the Collection — viz., two from Inhambane, near the 

 month of the river Limpopo, and two from Gorongoza, near 

 the mouth of the Zambesi. These make a very even series, 

 agreeing very iairly with Rothschild's robertsi. The most 

 prominent character said to disting;iish vassei irovarobertsi is 

 tliat this latter has " Ics parties infenenres blanches.^' This, 

 however, is based on a misunderstanding, and there is no 

 difference between the two on this point : vassei mu^t 

 therefore, I think, be accepted as a synonym of robertsi. 



The four races 1 can distinguish may be arranged in a 

 key as follows : — 



A. Size smaller: bead aud body and hind 



foot rarely reacbiiif? 800 and 200 mm. 

 respectively. Colour darker. Ears 

 sbovter, 7o mm. 



a. Colour '• tawny " ; nape pale slate-grey. 



(Xatal, Zululand.) , C. natalensis, A. Sm. 



b. Colour richer, redder on back, yellower 



on flanks ; nape almost black. (^Trans- 

 vaal.) C. n. amaenus, subsp. n. 



B. Size larger : head and body and hind foot 



reaching well above 800 and 200 mm. 

 respectively. Colour paler. Ears longer, 

 8o mm. 



a. Colour " tawny ochraceous," paler be- 



low. (Portuguese E. Africa.") C. n. robertsi, Roths. 



b. Colour much paler, below dirty white. 



(Nyasa.) C. n. hradshaxvi, subsp. ii. 



