SITATUNGA OF THE SESSE ISLANDS. 379 



Habits. — These Sitatunga appear to have developed the habits 

 of Waterbuck, living in the forest in the heat of the day and 

 coming boldly into open grass-land at other times. At about 

 5.30 P.M. they come out and walk straight away from the forest, 

 not hanging about the edge as Bushbuck do. Most animals 

 return to the forest about 8.30 a.m., though some were seen still 

 feeding on the open grass at 10.30 a.m. In the forest they lie 

 up in the densest thickets, but once in the open they appear to 

 be almost fearless. The firing of a rifle within 200 yards of 

 grazing animals did not always induce them to seek cover. 

 Though the human smell was always noted with suspicion, it was 

 not always treated with alarm. 



The majority of the animals seen were on the edge of the 

 forest which grows along the shores of the island, but several 

 were observed among the reeds on the lake edge, and among bush 

 on the very tops of the grass-covered hills. 



These Sitatunga are both browsers and grazers. They are 

 particularly fond of feeding along the edge of the forest, and on 

 two occasions buck were seen on their hind legs like goats, 

 browsing off forest shrubs. The stomachs of three buck examined 

 contained grass, leaves, and a little bark. 



When alarmed the noise is a deep grunt, and I was unable to 

 distinguish between that made by the two sexes. 



A slow stately Avalk seems to be the usual mode of progression. 

 I never saw one trot. When they make off they go clumsily, 

 dragging their hind legs with the slightest suggestion of a 

 kangaroo's gait. Their action when running or walking is very 

 high. They are very averse to facing a hill, either up or down, 

 and one buck, Avhich I compelled to gallop down a steep hill, 

 tripped over himself twice and completed the journey most 

 clumsily, but much to his own alarm, for not content with barking 

 and grunting at every bump he took on his downward journey, 

 he continued loudly to advertise his concern for nearly half an 

 hour later. 



It will probably be found that this Bugalla type of Sitatunga 

 is entitled to subspecific rank, but not having had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining mainland specimens, no further remarks will 

 be made on this point. 



Nkose Island. 



Nkose Island, the southernmost of the Sesse Group, was visited 

 on the afternoon of the 23rd October, 1915. It is about 

 2000 yards long and 300 broad. Throughout its entire length 

 it is covered with dense forest, which overhangs the water's edge. 

 There is practically no undergrowth, but the tangled mass of 

 roots, creepers, and fallen trees makes progression difficult and 

 affords dense cover for the Sitatunga, which appear to lie up in 

 the thickest parts during the daytime. At the southei-n ex- 

 tremity of the island there is about an acre of short grass. 



