The Tsessebe \gi 



nostrils approximate closely, the sub-orbital gland is small and its position 

 marked by a tuft of stiff hairs. The colour of the tsessebe is a warm red 

 shot with purple and, in-some lights, orange, presenting the appearance 

 of shot silk, the purplish bloom on the back deepening almost to black in 

 some individuals ; the hair is wonderfully satin-like and glossy. There is 

 a broad dark mark down the face, and the throat and under parts are 

 pale chocolate-red. The young of the tsessebe are bright yellowish red in 

 colour. An adult bull stands 3 feet 10 inches at the withers, but I have 

 measured individuals which have reached 4 feet. As is the case in all the 

 most typical forms of this group, the croup is low in comparison with the 

 shoulders, giving the hindquarters a very sloping, awkward appearance. 

 Horns are present in both sexes. These are sub-lyrate, diverging widely 

 from their bases, and well ringed for two-thirds of their length. The 

 maximum recorded length of bull horns is 1 5f inches, with a circumference 

 of *]\ inches; and of cow horns 14^ inches; circumference 6 inches. 

 My two largest pairs are — S, 14! inches, circumference 8 inches, and ?, 

 13 inches, circumference 6^ inches. This antelope is usually considered 

 to be the swiftest and most enduring in South Africa, and my own 

 experience confirms this ; but the red or Cape hartebeest runs it very 

 closely, and so I believe would Lichtenstein's hartebeest, only that the 

 latter has rarely if ever been raced by a mounted man. In point of 

 endurance, as well as in its marvellous tenacity of life, I consider the 

 blue wildebeest is at least the equal of the tsessebe ; while for a short 

 distance I believe the impala is swifter than either. 



These antelopes are widely distributed through South Central Africa 

 south of the Zambesi, 1 and in the country lying west towards Lake Ngami. 

 They are common in Mashonaland, the Eastern Transvaal, Gazaland, and in 

 the Pungwi district, Portuguese East Africa, where their range appears to 

 overlap that of the Lichtenstein hartebeest. They are partial to open 



