The Impala 323 



spaces in the neighbourhood of the nose-bones, and deep pits on the fore- 

 head like those of the Cervicaprince. With the exception of the springbuck 

 and the majority of the true gazelles, horns are developed only in the 

 males ; in most of the African members of the group they approximate 

 more or less to a lyrate form, and are always heavily ridged for the greater 

 part of their length. 



The impalas are some of the largest members of the group, easily 

 distinguished from all the rest by the absence of lateral hoofs and the 

 presence of tufts of hair above the main hoofs. The head is devoid of 

 face-glands, the tail is of moderate length, and the skull lacks pits both 

 above and below the eye-sockets, while the unossified vacuities in the 

 neighbourhood of the nose-bones are small. The horns of the male are 

 long, and curved into a broadly lyrate form, with the ridges confined to 

 the front surface, and the whole somewhat compressed. Two species, 

 chiefly distinguished by coloration, may be recognised. These are 



1. The Common Impala (.-Epyceros melampus). 



2. Angolan Impala (.-Epyceros petersi). 



The Common Impala or Palla (/Epyceros melampus) 



Rooi-bok of the Boers ; Impala of the Zulus, Matabele, Swazis, and 

 Matonga ; Pala or Pallali of the Basutos and Bechuanas ; 

 Nswala of the Lower Zambesi Natives; Ee-pala of the 

 Makalakas ; Kug-ar of Masarwa Bushmen. 



This antelope is one of the most beautiful ornamentations of the bush 

 country in which it is found, being graceful in outline and action, and of 

 brilliant coloration — bright chestnut-red on the back and upper part of 

 the sides, shading off" into pale red-fawn ; the belly and insides of the limbs 

 are snow-white. The head and neck are reddish-yellow ; muzzle covered 

 with hair ; no sub-orbital gland ; ears black-tipped, pointed, and delicate ; 



