2.04 Great and Small Game of Africa 



The Nyasaland Gnu [Connnchcetes taurinus jdhnstoni) 



Native name generally Nyumbo amongst the A-nyanja, and the same 

 or a similar word amongst the Wa-yao. 



This variety or sub-species of the brindled gnu (or " blue wildebeest ") 

 was first described by Mr. Sclater from specimens sent home by myself and 

 others from Nyasaland in 1895 and 1896. These specimens and a valuable 

 photograph taken by Mr. James Harrison, an English sportsman, sufficed 

 to establish clearly the almost specific differences between the gnu of 

 Nyasaland and the ordinary type of brindled gnu in South and East Africa. 

 The first specimen was killed by Mr. H. C. Macdonald of the British 

 Central Africa Administration. 



In size the Nyasaland gnu is about the same as the ordinary blue wilde- 

 beest — that is to say, about 4 feet in height at the shoulder. The head 

 is proportionately somewhat longer. The general colour of the body is 

 rather browner than in the case of the male of the ordinary brindled gnu. 

 The ears also are longer, the horns possibly a little more rounded. There 

 does not appear to be anything like the same development of long hair on 

 the bridge of the nose, but the breadth across the nostrils and round the 

 muzzle is apparently more exaggerated than in the ordinary species. The 

 most distinguishing mark is the white chevron across the ridge of the nose, 

 just below the line of the eyes. This is the most characteristic feature in 

 the Nyasaland gnu, and apparently is not met with in any other species of 

 this antelope. It recalls a similar marking present in certain species of 

 Bubalis and Damaliscus, such as the B. cama and Damaliscus hunteri. 



It is possible that the present habitat of the Nyasaland gnu is limited 

 to a small area in South-East Africa, partly in British and partly in Portu- 

 guese territory, bounded on the north by Lake Nyasa, on the west by the 

 River Shire, on the south by the Zambesi, and on the east by the Makua 



