270 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



its flesh. In captivity it is not common, though it has several times 

 been exhibited in the Zoological Gardens, and one specimen lived there 

 for seven years ; unlike its relative the Eland, it appears to be a deli- 

 cate animal, and probably requires more exercise and a more varied 

 and natural diet than usually falls to the lot of menagerie animals. 



THE LESSER KOODOO 



{Strepsiceros imberbis) 



The Lesser Koodoo was first described by that most excellent but 

 greatly neglected naturalist Edward Blyth, and is confined to Somali- 

 land and the coast of British East Africa. In most respects it is a 

 beautiful miniature of the ordinary Koodoo, but is more slenderly 

 built, and has no fringe of hair down the front of the neck. It 

 measures little more than a yard at the shoulder, and the buck's 

 horns are only about two feet in a straight line, with a less open 

 spiral than those of the large species. 



In general habits the Koodoo is not unlike its big relative ; it 

 frequents thick forest near water, and is only found in small parties. 

 It has great powers of leaping, and is very wary and hard to shoot 

 — more so than the large kind. A curious point about it is that 

 the meat, according to Mr. F. J. Jackson, disagrees with many East 

 African natives in a most peculiar way, causing great pain in the 

 mouth and gums when eaten. A few specimens have been kept in 

 the London Zoological Gardens, but have not thriven, and it is rare 

 in a living state on the Continent, even if known there at all. 



THE BONGO 



(Boocercus euryceros) 



The Bongo is a very fine example of the Tragelaphine Antelopes, 

 being about as big as a Donkey, and very richly coloured — a bright 

 chestnut with very distinct white stripes down the sides. There is 

 the white crescent across the face so common in the Antelopes of 

 this group, and another across the chest, while the legs are marked 

 with black and white. The tail is much like that of an Ox, and the 

 twisted horns are massive, but not very long, proportionately, being 



