xxvii ANIMALS WHICH PROVIDE MEAT, ETC. 269 
certainly refute the argument that the periodical 
migration is necessary for the preservation of the species. 
Wildebeeste used to be excessively numerous in certain 
seasons on the Athi plains. Mr. Buxton saw in 1900 
a herd some miles long and containing many thousands. 
Now there are but a few hundred. It is difficult to 
know what has happened to them. They have not 
suffered from disease, and have certainly not been shot 
in our territory. It is to be hoped, though one cannot 
be very sanguine, that they have merely retired into 
the back regions of German East Africa. The horns 
are measured in the same way as buffalo ; a fair 
specimen would measure in this way 27 inches and a 
fine one 29 inches. In addition to the localities already 
mentioned there are a good many wildebeeste on the 
Loieta plains and beyond to the German border ; also 
on the Kapiti plains and at Simba. 
The Hartebeeste (Coke’s, Jackson’s and Neumann’s) 
is ubiquitous and is generally held in such detestation 
that one must feel very doubtful of putting him in this 
category as being of any use to the average settler. 
My reason for doing so is the consideration that 
without his carcase a large proportion of settlers would 
so very frequently have gone hungry. Also his hide 
is undoubtedly tough and useful. Coke’s hartebeeste 
is the variety that occurs south and east of the Rift 
valley. It is considerably smaller than Jackson’s, 
weighing about 300 lb. as against more than 400 lb., 
and is also of a lighter shade of khaki. Jackson’s is 
found north and west of the Rift valley. Neumann’s 
is a very local and intermediate variety, and no doubt 
originated by the interbreeding of the two distinct 
species. It occurs around Lake Solai, and in size, 
colour, and shape of horns divides the characteristics 
