HUNTER’S HARTEBEEST 
DAMAUSCUS HUNTERI 
T HIS curious antelope, which was first discovered by Mr H. G. V. 
Hunter in 1888 to the north of the Tana River, about 150 miles 
from the coast, differs markedly in some respects from all 
other hartebeests. Especially is this the case as regards its 
horns, which in general appearance more nearly resemble those 
of the impala than those of any bubaline antelope. The face, 
however, although the horn pedicle is wanting, is rather long and 
hartebeest-like, as is the build of the body and the uniform rufous 
brown coloration of the hide. A well-defined white line passes across the 
forehead from one eye to the other, but no dark markings are present on 
any part of the limbs or face. In height Hunter’s hartebeest stands about 
forty inches at the shoulder. Horns are present in both sexes, and attain 
a length of from twenty to twenty -six inches, the first ten or twelve of 
which are heavily ringed. There is very little difference between the horns 
of male and female in this species. 
The range of Hunter’s hartebeest appears to be more restricted than 
that of any other African antelope, as I believe that it has never been met 
with during the twenty -five years which have elapsed since its first dis- 
covery anywhere but in a small area of country near the north bank of 
the Tana, about 150 miles from the mouth of that river. It is said to live 
in small herds either in open country or amongst thin thorn scrub, but 
its habitat appears to be rigidly confined to a certain narrow region of 
grass -growing country which stretches northwards from the Tana River 
towards the Juba. The range of Hunter’s hartebeest does not, however, 
extend as far north as the Juba River, and in the dry season it is only 
found in the near vicinity of the Tana. When Mr Hunter first met with 
the antelopes which have been named after him, their size and colour, and 
the shape of their horns, caused him to mistake them for impala, which 
antelopes are, however, not found on the lower course of the Tana River. 
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