ANTELOPES. 



273 



Abnormal Horns. 



Occasionally, cow eland are found with one or both horns 



. , 

 abnormally formed ; such abnormal horns being long and nearly 



straight, with a triangular cross-section. Such a pair, measuring 30 inches in a 

 straight line, were described a few years ago under the name of Antilope triangul- 

 aris, and were supposed to indicate an extinct species of antelope, which was 

 subsequently referred to a new genus. 



The magnificent animal known as the Derbian eland (0. 

 derbianus), replaces the common species on the West Coast in the 

 districts of Angola and Senegambia. It is considerably larger than the southern 

 and eastern form ; and the bulls have a large dark brown mane and much finer 

 horns. The horns of the cows are, however, relatively small. Male horns have 

 been measured of 34 J inches in length. 





KUDU. 

 Genus Strepsiceros. 



The graceful and beautifully marked antelopes known as kudu, of which 

 there are likewise two species, 

 are distinguished from eland 

 by the absence of horns in 

 the female, and by the cork- 

 screw-like spiral formed by 

 those of the male, as well as 

 by the much shorter tail, 

 which does not reach the 

 hocks. The horns are char- 

 acterised by the great develop- 

 ment of the front ridge, and 

 rise from the skull at an 

 obtuse angle to the plane of 

 the face. The neck is maned, 

 and the throat may be fur- 

 nished with a fringe of long 

 hair. The body is marked 

 with narrow vertical white 

 stripes descending from a white 

 line on the back ; and there 

 is also a white chevron on the 

 face, together with white spots 

 on the cheek, and splashes of 

 the same colour on the throat 

 and limbs. The hoofs are 

 short. 



The common kudu (Strepsiceros kudu), which is the species 

 represented in our illustration, is distinguished by its large size, the 



VOL. II. iS 



HEAD OF KUDU. After Nicolls and Eglington. 



Common Kudu. 



