ALLEN: MAMMALS FROM THE BLUE NILE VALLEY. 309 
1 2 3 
mm. mm. mm. 
Nose to root of tail 2615 2470 2400 
Tail (from anterior base to tip) 785 700+ 795 
Calcaneum to tip of hoof 595 610 615 
Ear from meatus to tip : — 290 290 
Standing height at shoulder 1680 1570 1660 
Half girth back of fore leg = 1150 1145 
Fore hoof, length of under side 190 180 170 
* “ greatest breadth 135 140 125 
Hind hoof, length of under side 140 160 160 
4 “greatest breadth 110 125 110 
Greatest expanse of horns, outside 745 850 880 
Greatest width of basal expansion of horn 210 230 210 
From these measurements it appears that the animal with the 
smallest spread of horns was the largest in body. The one with the 
broadest spread, however, (880 mm. = 34.5 inches) did not have the 
broadest base. The greater size of the anterior hoofs is also apparent; 
and is greatest in the largest-bodied specimen with the least spread of 
horns. 
Buffalo are now rare on the Blue Nile, at least along the north 
bank where our route lay. The only place where we learned of their 
presence was near a small native village called Omdurman, a few days’ 
journey below Roseires. Here apparently was a small herd of perhaps 
eight or ten, that came almost nightly to the edge of a large marsh or 
\to the vegetable gardens of the natives. They were very wary and dur- 
ing the day were not to be discovered, for they frequented the thickest 
cover along the river. As the natives are without firearms, the 
Buffalo have little to fear from them, though with shouts and fire- 
brands at night the men often frighten them from the growing crops. 
Passing sportsmen, or English officials, however, sometimes stop to 
aunt here. Cotton (1912) notes Buffalo at El Garef. Matschie’s 
specimen of B. azrakensis is said to have come from Roseires, but may 
10t have been shot in that immediate vicinity. 
_ It was not until we reached the Dinder that we found Buffalo in 
iny numbers. As the district was closed for a time, we were obliged 
0 retrace our steps from Roseires several days’ journey down stream 
yefore we were allowed to cross over, a two days’ march to the Dinder. 
Pins stream goes partly dry in the rainless season, so is much less 
listurbed and only very sparingly settled by natives. At El Kuka 
) 
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