KUNGL. SV.'VBT. AEADBMIESS HANDLINGAE. BA-N0 58. N:0 2. &? 



tion. The general colour of the female contains much more rufous brown thari that 

 of the male. ' 



The length of the upper molar series varies between 110 and 97 mni. in the adult 

 males; in the adult female it is ^7 mm. 



The tips of the horns are a little turned inwards, but in one of the bucks the right 

 horn is as much turned outwards as the left is turned inwards, which is to be regarded 

 as an individual anomaly. 



When accepting and using above Matschie's name Kohus defassa diance 1 only 

 want to express that the specimens in the present collection most nearly agree with the 

 specimens thus named by the author quoted. It does not appear probable that there 

 really should live three different subspecies (in the usual meaning of this word) of 

 Defassa Waterbuck not only at Lake Albert Edward, but even at one and the same place 

 Kasindi. It is not denied by this that there are to be found certain groups, or herds 

 of animals in each of which the individuals are alike, at the same time as they differ in 

 one or several characters of less importance from those of another group or herd. I 

 do not think, however, that each of these herds can be regarded as constituting a sub- 

 species of its own, even if the sharp eye of a trained zoologist may be able to distinguish 

 its members from the members of another herd. According to, as I suppose, the pre- 

 valent opinion among zoologists the word subspecies, as a rule, is taken as something 

 identical with geographic race. These somewhat different Defassa Waterbucks do 

 not represent different geographic races, but rather »family races ». Such »races» are 

 perhaps to be expected especially among polygamous aniinals among which even the 

 individual characteristics of certain strong males may be inherited to a comparatively 

 numerous offspring and transmitted through several generations. The result might 

 be a herd, or group of animals which may be recognized^ on certain minor features from 

 other individuals of the same spiecies, but with different parentage. 



As an analogy to this may be remiiided about the fact that experienced stock- 

 breeders often can distinguish cattle from different estates, although they are of quite 

 the same race. The cause of this is evidently the same as set forth above, a certain male 

 has put its stamp on the offspring, so that a recognizable »family race» has originated. 

 Through, inbreeding the distinguishing features may become more and more fixed. In 

 the wild state isolation may strengthen the differences, but mixing with other animals 

 of another herd abolish them. »R£l,ces» or groups of forms of this kind have thus not 

 the stability which a subspecies ought to have. It is, of course, of interest to note such 

 forms as referred to now, but, if they shall be named, it seems necessary to make a distinc- 



K. St. Tet. Akad. Handl. Band 58. N:o 2 13 



