^55 



The Zanzibar Suni 



THE SUNI 



Genus Nesotragus 



In the absence of a recognised common popular title for the two 

 representatives of this genus it seems best to adopt a local name of one or 

 them, as " antelope " alone is too vague. They are nearly allied to the 

 Grysbuck group, but the horns, which project beyond the back of the head, 

 slope backwards in or near the plane of the face, and the gland-pits in the 

 skull are large, while lateral hoofs are always wanting. The two species 



i. The Zanzibar Suni [Nesotragus moschatus"). 

 2. Livingstone's Suni ( ,, livingstonei). 



The Zanzibar Suni (Nesotragus moschatus) 



Suni of Kilimanjaro Natives 



This tiny antelope, which is usually known to Europeans as the Grave 

 Island gazelle or Zanzibar antelope, is found on one or two small islands 

 near Zanzibar, in the Duruma country, near Mombasa, about Kilimanjaro, 

 and from thence down the coast line to Mozambique. It stands no more 

 than from 12 to 14 inches in height at the withers, rather more at the 

 rump, and is of a grayish-brown colour, with touches of a warmer tint. 

 The under parts are white. The horns of the male are straight, slender, 

 and not more than from 2 to 3 inches long. The female is hornless. This 

 antelope is extremely partial to bush and cover, and is usually bagged 

 with a charge of small shot, very much as is a rabbit in England. The 

 facial glands have a strong odour of musk, from which the animal obtains 

 its scientific name moschatus, and the flesh is only passable. The suni feeds 

 mainly on bush, and is almost independent of water. It seems to have 



