NATURAL HISTORY 301 



At the time of our passage up the Ubangui, the long 

 grass in the outer country made hunting very difficult, and 

 we had to confine our attention chiefly to the large wooded 

 islands in the river, which are inhabited by elephant, buffalo, 

 and the West African bushbuck. On one of these islands 

 Goshng obtained three buffaloes which by their measure- 

 ments proved to be the Lake Chad species. 



The West African Bushbuck, like the Situtunga, inhabits 

 reedy swamps, frequently (according to the natives) standing 

 in the water up to its eyes. On the Ubangui it is known as 

 " m'bruya," and is not killed by the natives, as it is said 

 to bring the slayer all sorts of misfortunes. Consequently 

 we found it very difficult to procure any accurate information 

 as to its whereabouts. 



In the forest country about Banzy ville the natives trap 

 the antelope in pits. A rough barrier of branches is made 

 at right angles to a forest stream ; in this a number of gaps 

 are left, and opposite to each is dug a pit 10 ft. deep or so, 

 in the bottom of which sharp stakes are driven ; the surface 

 is then concealed with a light covering of twigs and leaves. 



It was at Bambih that we first obtained some of the 

 rarest forest animals. Several small antelopes were brought 

 to us by the Ababuas who catch them in nets ; one of a rich 

 red-brown colour was especially beautiful and proved to be 

 new to science. It is named after my brother, CephalopJius 

 claucli. 



It was in the Ababua country also that we found the 

 Bongo antelope, and the Yellow-backed duiker which is the 

 largest member of its genus and easily distinguished from the 

 others by its almost uniform blackish colour and yellow streak 



