310 UNGULATES. 



eye is small, and is peculiar in opening either in the form of a slit (as in the species 

 figured) or as a row of small pores. The muzzle has a large naked portion, and the 

 tail is very short. The upper molar teeth have broad and square crowns (as in the 

 figure on p. 158), and thereby differ markedly from those of the preceding group. 

 The majority of the duikers are light and elegantly-built animals, of a more or less 

 uniform colour, and are all very similar in structure. From their generally inhabit- 

 ing jungly or forest country, they are frequently spoken of as bush-bucks, but since 

 that name is also employed for the guib (p. 277), its use is best avoided. 



The common or true duiker (Gepkalophus grimmi) is found in bush-covered 

 districts from the Cape to the Zambesi and Nyasaland, and on the west coast 

 ranges as far north as Angola. It stands about 26 inches in height, and belongs 

 to a group of three species characterised by the general absence of horns in the 

 female, and by those of the male rising upwards at a sharp angle to the plane of 

 the nose. The ears are very long and narrow, and the colour typically yellowish 

 brown, with a more or less marked grey tinge ; but there is great variation in this 

 respect, some skins tending to reddish and others to greenish, while the amount of 

 white on the under-parts is also variable. The length of the horns is usually from 

 3 to 4 inches, although they may reach 5 inches. The name duiker, it may be 

 mentioned, signifies diver or ducker, in allusion to the rapidity of the creature's 

 movements when in cover. The madoqua (C. abyssinicws) is a smaller but allied 

 species from Abyssinia, distinguished by its grizzled greyish brown colour. 



The red buck or Natal duiker (C. natalensis), which stands about 

 Ked Buck. . . . 



24 inches at the shoulder, differs by its horns (present in both sexes) 



inclining backwards in the plane of the nose, as in the majority of the genus. It 



is also distinguished by its bright reddish-bay colour, shorter and broader ears, 



smaller horns, and larger head-tuft. Owing to the sudden rushes they make when 



disturbed, these antelopes are difficult to shoot, and their flesh is unpalatable. 



There are many other more or less nearly-allied species, such as the philantomba 



(C. maxwelli) of Sierra Leone, to which it will be unnecessary to refer. 



The little South African blue buck or pigmy antelope (C. monti- 



Blue Buck. . . i • i n 



cola) must, however, claim attention as being the smallest member of 

 the genus. These tiny creatures, which swarm in the Natal jungles, and stand only 

 1 3 inches at the shoulder, are smaller and lighter in build than a hare, and are of a 

 bluish mouse-colour, with the tiny straight horns scarcely showing above the tuft 

 of hair. Mr. Drummond states that these antelopes feed principally on certain 

 berries and shrubs found growing in the jungles, and seem to be on the move, more 

 or less, the whole day, though they are most often to be seen at early morning and 

 evening. " Perhaps the most enjoyable way of shooting them is to steal about 

 in the dense jungle, and shoot them as they patter about among the dead leaves 

 which strew the game-paths, or catch them while feeding on some favourite 

 bush." 



Another member of the group is the much larger zebra-antelope 



(0. doricti) of West Africa, which takes its name from the eight or nine 

 black transverse bands crossing the back and loins, and gradually narrowing to a 

 point on the flanks ; the ground-colour being a golden-brown. This coloration is 

 quite unique among Ruminants, and rivals that of the marsupial thylacine. 



