The Reedbuck 305 



THE REEDBUCKS 



Genus Cervicapra 



The presence of a bare or short-haired patch, apparently acting as a 

 gland, below each ear, and the comparatively short and bushy tail, serve 

 to distinguish at a glance the reedbucks from their near relatives the water- 

 bucks and kobs. The horns of the males are regularly curved upwards, 

 and sometimes also forwards. In the skull the premaxilla- are not extended 

 upwards and backwards to join the nose-bones. 



Four well-defined species of reedbuck may be recognised, viz. : — 



1. Common Reedbuck {Cervicapra arundinum). 



2. Bohor „ ( „ bohor). 



3. Nagor „ ( „ redunca). 



4. Mountain „ ( „ fulvorufula). 



The latter, which is distinguished by its small size, coupled with the 

 lack of a forward hooking of the horns, may be divided into the typical 

 southern race, an imperfectly known eastern race [chanler'i), and a peculiar 

 semi-albino race [subalpind) apparently confined to a single mountain in the 

 Lydenburg district of the Transvaal. 



The Common Reedbuck {Cervicapra arundinum) 



Rietbok of the Boers; Mziki of the Zulus and Matabele ; Inhlango 

 of the Swazis and Matonga ; Cipohata of the Bechuanas ; Iklabu 

 of the Basuto ; Impoyo of the Lower Zambesi Natives. 



Colour of adult rams ashy brown above, with a strong tinge of yellow, 

 darker on the back ; head pale ochreous brown, under parts and inner 

 side of limbs yellowish white ; the fur on the under parts long and almost 

 woolly. Muzzle naked ; sub -orbital glands small ; ears long and rather 

 pointed, thickly haired inside. Tail short and bushy, brownish yellow 



