ISfJH.J MR. P. L. SCLATEU ON BAKER's ANTELOPE. 215 



King of Italy's agent at Ohartoum, which was quite unknown to me. 

 but which I at once recognized as belonging in all probability to the 

 species described by v. Heuglin. In order to ascertain whether my 

 supposition was correct, M. Comba, the Director of the Royal 

 Menagerie, most kindly promised to have a figure made of the ani- 

 mal, so that it might be compared with v. Heuglin's description, 

 which was inaccessible to us at Turin. The receipt of the excellent 

 coloured photograph which I now exhibit (see PI. XVI.) has en- 

 abled me to make this comparison ; and I can now state, without fear 

 of error, that the Antelope at Turin is unquestionably a young male 

 Hippotragus bakeri. I am further confirmed in the correctness of 

 my opinion by the testimony of Sir Samuel Baker, who has examined 

 the photograph and kindly supplied me with the following notes 

 upon the animal and its habits*. 



" The Maarif, or Hippotragus bakeri, was first seen by me in 1861, 

 at the western base of the lofty chain of mountains that walls in 

 Abyssinia from the Egyptian territory. In this country it is by no 

 means rare. I subsequently met with the same animal in the La- 

 tooka country in 4° 20' N. lat., 32° 40' E. long. 



" The Maarif is the largest of all the Abyssinian and Nubian 

 Antelopes; it averages about 14 hands in height at the withers, 

 which are extremely prominent. Its colour is mouse-grey, with 

 black stripes across the shoulders and white markings on the nose 

 and cheeks. The neck, both above and below, is protected by a stifif 

 and coarse black name, which stands erect Uke that of a hob-maned 

 horse. Both males and females have horns ; these are annulated and 

 exceedingly powerful, they bend gracefully backwards. 



" The Maarif is most difficult to approach, as it inhabits extensive 

 plains, where the rifle has little chance at the extreme range which 

 this Antelope invariably observes. In habits of watchfulness it is 

 only e^qualled by the Giraffe. I have frequently remarked that the 

 main body of the herd is protected while grazing by one or more of 

 the party who act as sentries and give alarm at the approacli of 

 danger When arriving at the banks of a river, a herd of Maarifs 

 never descend to the water until one or two have gone forward as 

 an advanced guard. These narrowly scrutinize all sides, while the 

 expectant herd waits their decision, and, although painfully thirsty 

 during the hot season, they never drink until the leaders have as- 

 sured them of safety. 



"The margins of rivers are generally covered with thick bush, the 

 resort of Lions and Leopards, which lie in ambush for the animals 

 which visit the drinking-place ; hence the extreme caution of the 

 wary Antelope. 



" The country in which the Maarif is most numerous is that 

 between the Bahr Salaam and the mountain Nahoot Guddavi at the 

 western base of the Abyssinian Alps. Throughout this district I 

 have seen large herds of this Antelope; but the nature of the soil is 

 so much against Horses that it would be impossible to overtake the 



of Ab^sSa,> Ss!"^^ ^"^^''''' '■^"'°'"''' °'' ^^'' ""^"""^ ^ ^^^ ' ^'^' Tributaries 



