1890.] ANTELOPES OF NYASA-LAND. 6.t9 



young animals, as in the Koodoo and Bush-buck, the stripes, I take 

 it, would be most conspicuous ; but this is merely a conjecture on 

 my part, as I have never seen a very young specimen. In the 

 horns, I have not been able to note any specific difference, though 

 it is remarkable that in some districts they are wider or narrower 

 apart as the case may be, as with other Antelopes. 



Elands as a rule go in large herds numbering 50 or more, but it is 

 not unusual to meet solitary bulls, or even small troops of bulls, 

 wliich latter are generally very fat. It is a remarkable fact that 

 " Rhinoceros " birds almost always accompany Elands : I have 

 not, however, once noticed them with other Antelopes, though natives 

 tell me they sometimes go with the Wart-Hog. Elands no doubt are 

 naturally shy and timid, but these birds make them still more difficult 

 to approach," since, on the slightest appearance of danger, they fly up 

 from the backs of the animals and screech out a terrible tell-tale 

 concert ; they are, however, also useful in enabling one to find 

 Elands, especially in wooded country. 



The favourite haunts of Elands seem to be undulating, well-timbered 

 country, where the grass is not too long, and where there are inter- 

 vening open plains ; as a rule, they visit the plains at night or in the 

 early mornings to drink, and then wander back long distances into 

 the forest, where they spend the hot hours of the day. I have often 

 found Elands five or six miles from water, notably in the Nkanga and 

 Fulirwa countries. Eland, I have noticed, consort freely with 

 Zebras, taking the same paths and mixing with them when feeding ; 

 they also have a habit of rolling in the curious basin-shaped earth- 

 holes which Zebras make and use for the same purpose ; this I 

 especially remarked at Nkanga. 



8. Strepsiceros kudu. 



The Koodoo, "Ngoma" of the Anyanja, "Ndandala" of the 

 Ajawa, "Nganchla" of the Angoni, and " Chipurupuru " of the 

 Ahenga and Anyika (Apoka), is tolerably well distributed throughout 

 all Nyasa-land • I have myself, however, seen comparatively few — 

 fewer indeed, than any other well-known species except the Sable 

 Antelope, though this may be readily attributed to the excessive 

 shyness and retiring habits of these animals, as well as to the rough 

 out-of-the-way hilly country where they are generally found. 



In 1885 I repeatedly came across the Koodoo in the hills at the 

 back of Amuwa, north-west of Cape Maclear ; here I saw some really 

 magnificent bulls with splendid heads, but could not take advantage 

 of the chances they afforded.me, as I was anxious not to disturb the 

 Elephants in whose pursuit I was then engaged. In the same year 

 in the neighbourhood of Mbapi, I noticed the skull and horns of a 

 fine bull, presumably killed by Lions, and I subsequently obtained a 

 remarkably fine pair of horns from a native of Mbapi, who had 

 killed the bearer of them not far from the outskirts of the village. 



On the Cape Maclear promontory I know there are Koodoos, 

 having constantly noticed their spoor on the path to and from 

 Lesumbwi; but the animals themselves are incredibly shy there, 



