1890.] antelopes of nyasa-land. 653 



2. Cervicapra arundinacea. 



Quite as widely distributed as the Water-buck, though in fewer 

 numbers, is the Reed-buck, " Mpoyo " of the Anyanja, " Ndopi " 

 of the Ajawa, " Imzigi " of the Angoni, " Swye" of the Aheuga and 

 Anyika, and " Iswera " of the Ankonde. All over Nyasa-land Reed- 

 bucks are to be found, at least Avherever there are open plains such 

 as Water-buck frequent ; I have not, however, come across them in 

 the hills. 



On the West Coast, on the plains to the north of Cape Maclear, 

 especially between Amuwa and Mpemba's, I found the Reed-buck in 

 considerable numbers in 1885. 



I also saw a good number in 1889, scattered about the country 

 between Chombi and Nkanga ; here there are five small rivers, the 

 Kapwekeri, Hara, Kambweri, Chonanga, and the Ngarawi, all close 

 together, and the intervening country is particularly suited to the 

 Reed-buck. I have found it perhaps in greatest numbers on the 

 vast swampy plains at the foot of the Wa-kinga Mountains, between 

 Kisali in Mankendya's country and Kisako in Mapweri's to the north- 

 west of the Lake ; south of that, again, in the Songwi and Insesi 

 country, and indeed everywhere between that and the Eikuru River, 

 some three miles north of Karouga's. But the Reed-buck are so 

 generally met with throughout all Nyasa-land that really it seems 

 needless to give any localities. 



I should say that the Reed-buck is more wary than the Water- 

 buck, at least they are certainly more difficult to stalk, and this is 

 mainly due to their liking for bare open country ; as a rule, they are 

 found singly or in pairs, but I have occasionally come across as many 

 as four or even six together in one place. 



In their habits they are decidedly local, and day after day the 

 same animals can be found in the same spot ; they are particularly 

 partial to clean bare sandy patches in open plains, well away from 

 cover, and here, like the " Insa," a small reddish-coloured Antelope, 

 they resort and stand about day after day for weeks together, as may 

 be seen from the piles of droppings that accumulate. When alarmed 

 they give vent to shrill screams — Whew ! Whew ! — and bound off 

 kicking up their hind legs and tossing their tails like rabbits ; their 

 tails are thick and bushy and, being white on the underside, present 

 a striking appearance when their owners are making off in the grey 

 dusk of evening or very early morning. They have a strong scent, 

 but their venison, to my thinking, is better than any except that of 

 the " Impala " or Eland ; as a rule, too, it carries more fat than any 

 other, unless occasionally an Eland. 



3. Oreotragus saltator. 



The Klip-springer, " Chinkoma " of the Nyasa tribes, is com- 

 monly met with in rough mountainous country, and occasionally 

 where there are no other Antelopes. 



On the West Coast, on Chombi and all along the Apoka Moun- 

 tains, I have found them plentiful, especially in the dry rocky hills 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1890, No. XLIV. 44 



