THE LESSER KOODOO 
STREPSICEROS IMBERBIS 
/ LTHOUGH lacking the majestic presence of its greater relative, 
the lesser koodoo is nevertheless one of the most graceful 
k and beautiful of all African antelopes. The general 
colour in this species is a rich dark grey, banded with 
thirteen or fourteen very plainly defined white stripes on 
■k. either side of the body. This antelope entirely lacks the 
long fringe of hair which hangs from throat to chest in the greater koodoo, 
but, on the other hand, shows two white bands across the throat which 
are lacking in the latter species. The horns in the male of the lesser 
koodoo are beautifully twisted in a close spiral, and sometimes reach a 
length of thirty-five or even thirty-six inches over the curve. The ears 
are longer in the lesser koodoo, but not so broad and round in proportion 
to its size as in any of its near relatives, such as the greater koodoo, 
bushbuck or inyala. 
The lesser koodoo has a somewhat restricted range extending from 
Southern Abyssinia to the northern districts of German East Africa. Away 
from the coast it is very local, but it may be met with in the neighbourhood 
of the Uganda railway at various places from Maungu to Matito Andea, as 
well as along the southern border of British East Africa, both in British 
and German territory, and on both sides of the Northern Gwas N’yiro 
River, between Chanler’s Falls and the Lorian swamp. Lesser koodoos 
live in thick, scrubby bush, usually near rivers, and are partial to districts 
where patches of spiky aloes grow in profusion, as along the Uganda 
railway. They are not very gregarious animals, living either in small 
herds, or two together, or singly. Near Matito Andea I found them in herds 
of as many as eight together, one male and the rest females and young 
animals; but along the Northern Gwas N’yiro River I saw no herds at all, 
but met with nothing but single males, single females, with or without 
fawns, or sometimes two females together, each with a young one. Lesser 
koodoos, when alarmed, bark just like bushbucks and greater koodoos, 
and as a rule they are very wary and shy, but if they have not got one’s 
wind, they usually only run a short distance on being disturbed before 
coming to a halt behind a bush or patch of aloes, there to watch and listen 
for anything approaching them. In the daytime, at least where I have 
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