144 
other South-African Antelope; but, if it will give anyone satisfaction to 
know it, I can conscientiously say that that of the Pookoo is several shades 
worse. In conclusion, I have found that they and their congener the 
Lechwe are wonderfully tenacious of life, and will run long distances after 
receiving wounds that one would think ought to be immediately fatal.” 
Mr. Selous’s field-notes on this Antelope are accompanied by an excellent 
coloured figure of the whole animal, and by some drawings of the horns, 
which, by the kind permission of the Zoological Society, we are enabled to 
reproduce here (see fig. 35, p. 143). 
It was until recently supposed that the Poku did not extend its range far 
north of the Zambesi; but in 1890 Mr. Alfred Sharpe met with it on the 
Luapula north of Lake Mweru, and says (Pr. R. G. 8. n. s. xiv. p. 39) that 
it is common there, although unknown in the countries bordering on Lake 
Nyasa. Mr. Sharpe sent home three flat skins and several pairs of horns of 
this species, which were examined by Sclater (P.Z.S. 1892, p. 98; 1893, 
p. 728), and says, in his accompanying notes, ‘“‘I doubt if game can be 
anywhere more plentiful in Central Africa than in the Mweru and Luapula 
countries. Cobus vardoni and C. lechee run in enormous herds. These two 
Antelopes are frequently found together, are much alike in appearance, and 
are both known by the natives as ‘ Nswala.’ (The Impala is also called 
‘ Nswala’ by them.) ‘The horns of the Letchwé have a much larger spread 
than those of Vardon’s Antelope, but at a distance it is difficult to distinguish 
between the two. The Letchwé has a little black stripe on the fore legs 
which is not found in Vardon’s Antelope. A noticeable feature about the 
male Letchwé is that when he runs he puts his head down, laying back the 
horns. Vardon’s Antelope does not do this.” Mr. Sharpe also met with 
C. vardoni occasionally near the south end of Lake Tanganyika. In the 
narrative of his second journey to Lake Mweru in 1892 (Geogr. Journ. 
i. p. 526) Mr. Sharpe has again noticed the abundance of the Poku in the 
Mweru swamp along with the Lechee. 
Our figures of Cobus vardoni (Plate XLI.) were drawn by Mr. Smit from 
the mounted specimens of both sexes in the British Museum procured by 
Mr. F. C. Selous at Umparira, on the River Chobe, in 1881. There are skins 
and skulls in the same collection obtained by Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Crawshay 
in the district of Lake Mweru. 
December, 1896. 
