CAPE BUFFALO 



391 



Homs of Cape Buffalo (F. H. Barber's specimen). 



CAPE BUFFALO (Bos caffer). 



Inyati of the Swazis and Zulus. 

 Mbogo and Nyati of the Swahilis. 

 Nari of the Basutos. 



Nadi in the Barotse and Lake 



N'gami countries. 

 Mboa and Nyati in the Chilala and 



Chibisa countries. 



Among tlie distinctive features of this splendid bovine may be 

 noted the enormous helmet -like mass formed by the closely ap- 

 proximated bases of the horns in old bulls, the backward inclination 

 and comparatively slight angulation of the horns themselves, the 

 shortness of the face, and the great width and size of the heavily 

 fringed and flapping ears. In colour both the skin and the sparse 

 hairs with which it is clothed are for the most part jetty black ; the 

 hairs themselves being directed uniformly backwards from the nape to 

 the rump. Height at shoulder about five feet. 



Distribution. — Southern Africa from the Cape to the southern bank of 

 the Congo on the west side, and approximately to the neighbour- 

 hood of the Victoria Nyanza on the east side of the continent. 

 Northwards of this it not improbably gradually passes into the 

 Abyssinian buffalo. Except on the Zambesi, Chobe, and some 

 neighbouring rivers, buffaloes have now become very scarce in 

 South Africa. But between Umtali and the east coast at Beira, 

 and also from the latter station to the mouth of the Zambesi, they 

 are to be met with in vast herds ; and a few years ago existed in 

 countless numbers. Here they are much protected by the un- 

 healthy nature of the country, which is deadly to Europeans, except 

 between the end of May and November. Save for a few protected 



