THE LORIAN WHITE WATERBUCK 
75 
which may belong, apparently, either to the typical waterbuck 
(Cobus ellipsiprymnus) or to Cobus defassa, always have red 
eyes, as is exemplified by an example from Portuguese East 
Africa exhibited in the north hall of the Natural History 
Museum. The Lorian waterbuck, on the other hand, as men- 
tioned by Col. W. H. Brown (‘ P.Z.S.’ 1905, p. 297), and also by 
Lord Gifford in his note above mentioned, have eyes of the 
normal colour, and thus are not true albinos. Col. Brown’s 
buck, which was in company with a white doe when shot, was 
obtained in July 1904, on the right or north bank of the Guaso 
Nyiro, about twenty miles to the westward of the Lorian 
swamp. Lord Gifford also obtained his two white bucks on 
the north bank of that river, where he saw four other examples, 
as well as a calf on the south bank. His lordship describes 
having seen a white male and female in company, but other- 
wise the white individuals were mingled with normally coloured 
animals. One white calf is recorded as having been seen with 
a dark dam, but it appeared to have grey patches on the head 
and back. These accounts indicate that white waterbuck are 
comparatively common in the Lorian district, although they 
do not herd by themselves ; and it would seem that we have 
a case somewhat analogous to that of the grey reed-bucks 
( Cervicapra arundinum) of the Songi river, near its entrance 
into Lake Nyasa. These, it may be remembered, were de- 
scribed by Dr. Sclater (‘ P.Z.S.’ 1900, p. 429) as a new species, 
under the name of C. penricei ; but, as I have pointed out on 
page 224 of my ‘ Game Animals of Africa,’ it cannot be regarded 
as more than a local variety or possibly race. Eight speci- 
mens of these pale grey reed-bucks were known when Dr. 
Sclater wrote, but it does not appear to be ascertained whether 
they form a colony by themselves, or whether they mingle 
with normally coloured animals like the Lorian white water- 
bucks. In the case of both species it is difficult to understand 
how the pale variety is maintained, unless individuals of the 
aberrant type normally pair together.— R. L. (Extract from 
‘ Field,' September 3, 1910). 
