142 ON THE GREATER KUDU OF SOMALILAND. [Feb. 21, 



as I am aware, a sufficient number of published data to establish 

 the truth of this hypothesis finally. Nevertheless, Selous's * state- 

 ment that the S.- African Kudu, although usually partial to hilly 

 country covered with dense thickets, is also common in the thick 

 bush along both banks of the River Chobe, where there are no 

 hills whatever, and Kirby's t corroboration to the eiFect that in 

 the heavy belts of bush lining the rivers and watercourses these 

 animals ai-e as at home as in I'ocky bush-covered hills, are very 

 much to the point, since they testify that the habitat of the Greater 

 Kudu of S. Africa embraces the habitats of the two forms that 

 occur further north in that continent. Hence, if there is any 

 truth in the theory that the markings of these Antelopes are cor- 

 related with habitat, we should expect to find the markings of the 

 southern form of the Greater Kudu intermediate between those 

 of the northern form of the same species and of their smaller but 

 more beautiful ally Strej^siceros imherhis ; and this seems to be 

 the case. 



* P. Z. S. 1881, p. 752. 



t ' Haunts of Wild Game,' p. 549. 



