1880.J 



ON TWO NEW SPECIES OF NEOTRAGUS. 



17 



5. Description of two new Species of Dwarf Antelope 

 {Neotragus). By Dr. A. Gtunther, F.Z.S. 



[Eeceived November 21, 1879.] 



A Dwarf Antelope obtained by Dr. Kirk near Brava, in the South 

 Somali country, proves to be allied to, and the southern representative 

 of, Neotragus saltianus from Abyssinia. Dr. Kirk has sent the skin 

 of a female not quite adult and the head of an adult male ; perfect 

 skulls have been extracted from both. I propose for the new species 

 the name of Neotragus klrkii. 



With regard to size there seems to be no great difference between 

 the two species ; but N. kirkii is somewhat smaller, and its coloration 

 is very distinct. 



In the first place I have to draw attention to the peculiar form of 



Fig. 1. 



Head of Neotragus kirkii. 



the muzzle, which is much elongated, protruding beyond the mouth, 

 swollen along its upper profile, and very distensible, resembling in 

 some measure that of the Saiga Antelope. This peculiarity it has 

 most probably in common with the Abyssinian species, though, as 

 far as we can judge from dried skins, it is less developed in this 

 latter ; nor do I find it mentioned by any previous writer. I am 

 ignorant of the function in the animal's economy to which it 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1880, No. II. 2 



