THE KOODOO 



{Strepsiceros kudu) 



It is a question whether the Koodoo or the Sable Antelope is the most 

 beautiful of all Antelopes, and our illustrations give at any rate a fair 

 opportunity for comparison of these two magnificent beasts. The 

 Koodoo, which is, like the Eland, one of the Tragelaphine group of 

 Antelopes, is also a large animal, but not to be compared in dimen- 

 sions with that giant species, though about equal to a Horse in size. 



The horns in the bull grow to a great size, sometimes four feet 

 measured in a straight line, which, of course, means that over a foot 

 must be added for the measurement taken along their spiral curves ; 

 but such specimens of these are rare, though a good horn should be 

 more than a yard, measured straight. In the cow there are, as a rule, 

 no horns ; but in very rare cases females with under-sized and malformed 

 horns have been recorded. In colour the female is browner than the 

 male, which gets grey with age. 



The Koodoo has a wide range in Africa, from Abyssinia and Somali- 

 land to Cape Colony, but has, unfortunately, been exterminated in some 

 places, not only owing to human persecution, but owing to rinderpest, 

 which has proved a deadly scourge not only to domestic cattle in 

 Africa, but also to several of the wild ruminants, which are unfortu- 

 nately susceptible to its ravages. Specimens from the northern part of 

 Africa have fewer white stripes than the southern ones. The favourite 

 ground of the Koodoo is hilly country clothed with bush, and not too 

 far from water, as it usually drinks regularly. In such ground, of its 

 own choosing, it can easily evade a horseman ; but the bull, at any 

 rate, is a heavy animal in the open, and can be galloped down, though 

 the cow is fleeter. 



These Antelopes are usually found in small herds, and even the 

 old males sometimes form little bands of their own. In spite of their 

 imposing appearance and fine horns, they have remarkably little spirit, 

 and show, when at bay, according to Mr. R C. Selous, less idea of 

 self-defence than any other Antelope — a remarkable contrast to their 

 rival, the plucky and gallant Sable. The note of the Koodoo is a 

 bark, which it utters when alarmed ; opinions vary about the quality of 



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