'iilE stiioi's coLliECTioif. 25 



Connochsstes taurinus, Sclater, List Anim. Zool. Gardens, p. 150, 1883 ; 



Proo. Zool. Soc. 1900, p. 771, pi. xlviii. 

 Cminochsstes taurmus taurinus, Lydekker and Blaine, Oat. Ungulate 



Mamm. Brit. Mus. vol. ii. p. 56, 1914. 



Size larger than in Gonnocliastes gnu ; shoulder-height from 51 

 to 52 inches, hind quarters sloping more as in Aloelaphus. Horns 

 narrower at hase and directed outwards to start with, then curving 

 upwards and inwards. No long fringe between fore legs, such as 

 occurs in Connochcetes gnu. General colour considerably greyer, 

 with a suggestion of dark stripes on neck and shoulders. Tail- 

 tuft brownish black. Snout long, and dorsal vertebraj thirteen in 

 number. Distinguished from the white-bearded race by the throat 

 fringe being very dark brown in colour. 



Best horn measurements (No. 19. 7. 15. 118) : — outside 

 width 30^ ; inside width 26^ ; length over curve 27 ; width of 

 palm in straight line 5 ; spread from tip to tip 18J. 



Typical locality, Bechuanaland ; range extends northwards as 

 far as the Zambesi and N. Ehodesia. 



Selous * gives the following accomit of the distribution of the 

 Blue Wildebeest in South Africa in 1881" : — " This animal is met 

 with on the western borders of Griqualand West and all along the 

 eastern ridge of the Kalahari Desert, and all over South Central 

 Africa wherever I have travelled from the Limpopo to the 

 Zambesi, and from the Mashuna country to Lake Ngami it is to be 

 met with in those districts that are suitable to its habits. Like the 

 Tsessebe it is partial to open downs devoid of bush, or open glades 

 in the forest, and is never met with in hilly countries. On the 

 Mababe flat it congregates in immense herds during the dry season. 

 In the Manica country, north of the Zambesi, I did not see any 

 Blue Wildebeest ; but the natives told me that to the west of the 

 river Kafukwe, in the country of the Mashukulumbwe, they were 

 IDlentiful " 



93 —19. 7. 15. 118. April, 1888. Noi-th Kalahari, Khama's- 



Country, Bechuanaland. 



94 —19.7.15.119. 26 October, 1879. Mababi Plain, Khama's 



Country, Bechuanaland. 



95 —19.7.15.120. 14 November, 1883. Near Umniati Kiver, 



Mashonaland, Southern Bhodesia. 



* Proo. Zool. Soc. 1881, p. 765. 



