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The Bushbucks of the typical section of the genus Tragelaphus appear 
to be spread all over Africa south of the Sahara, wherever wooded districts 
suitable for their mode of life are met with. But although they are all 
nearly similar in general structure they vary much in their markings and other 
minor characters, and it is an exceedingly difficult task to decide how far 
these differences should be regarded as specific or subspecific, or in some 
cases as merely individual variations. A much larger series of specimens 
from the various localities in the wide area over which this animal ranges 
than we can yet command is necessary before any certain conclusions can be 
arrived at on this subject. Meanwhile we propose to follow, as probably 
approximately correct, the view already put forward on this group by Thomas 
in his article on the TYragelaphi, published in the Zoological Society’s 
‘ Proceedings ’ for 1891, merely elevating the four forms there treated of as 
subspecies to the rank of species. Of these four species thus recognized we 
have already treated of one—Tragelaphus decula, which appears to be a 
somewhat isolated form only met with in Abyssinia and the immediately 
adjacent districts. We have now come to the true 7. scriptus, which, on 
the contrary, seems to have a very wide distribution under its various 
phases. 
The ‘“ Harnessed Antelope,” as it is usually called in English, was first 
discovered in Senegal by the celebrated naturalist and traveller Adanson, who 
visited that Colony in the middle of the last century, and communicated many 
of his notes and specimens to Buffon. The latter described and figured it in 
his ‘ Histoire Naturelle’ under the name “‘ Le Guid,” which Adanson gave as 
its native name in Senegal, stating that it is found in the woods and plains of 
the country of the Jaloufs and on the Senegal River. From Senegal also 
living specimens of both sexes of this Antelope were subsequently received 
at the Jardin des Plantes, and figured under the same name by F. Cuvier and 
Geoffroy St.-Hilaire in their great work upon Mammals. Pallas established 
his “Antilope scripta” upon Buffon’s “ Guid,” stating that he had not himself 
met with examples of it. There can be no doubt, therefore, that this particular 
local form is entitled to be called Tragelaphus scriptus. Like most of the 
Senegalese mammals, it also occurs on the Gambia, where Whitfield, and, 
in more recent days, Dr. Rendall procured specimens which are now in the 
British Museum. 
Descending the West-African coast we find the same species also recorded 
