The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
“The ‘Rooi Rhébok’ of the Boers is an inhabitant of arid stony hills,
and wherever such hills are met with one may expect to find this
handsome little Antelope throughout the Cape Colony, Natal, Zululand,
the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, Bechuanaland, and the southern
portion of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. In the west it does not
range further north than Sichele’s country, and though plentiful in
the parched-up stony hills scattered over the territory of that chief,
it is unknown in very similar ground in Khama’s country, only a short
distance further north; nor have I ever heard of its existence in any
country to the north of the Limpopo River, and it is certainly unknown
in Makalakaland, Matabeleland, and Mashunaland. In appearance the Red
Rhébuck looks very much like a miniature Reedbuck, but on a close
inspection, although the resemblance between the two species is very
close, certain points of difference will be noted. Both species have a
large fluffy tail, which they throw up when alarmed, exposing the white
under surface; the shape of the ears is the same in both, and both have
bare spots about the size of a sixpence an inch below the base of the
ears. There is not much difference in the colour of the two species,
and the distribution of white on the underparts of each is the same.
The character of the horns in the two species is, however, different,
for although the male Red Rhébuck has horns crooking forwards like
those of a Reedbuck, a pair of Red Rhébuck horns do not look like a
pair of Reedbuck horns in miniature. The minor points of divergence
would be difficult to explain, though apparent enough on comparison
of actual specimens; but the most important difference is the absence
in the Red Rhébuck of the soft cushion at the base of the horn, which
is always present in the Reedbuck. This soft gristly cushion covered
with black skin, at the base of the horn above the eye, is found in no
other Antelope but the Reedbuck, and is never absent in this species,
nor does it ever disappear or turn into horn with age, being invariably
found at the base of the horns of the oldest males. In the Red Rhébuck
the hair grows close up round the base of the horn, as in all other
Antelopes, with the exception of the Reedbuck. In both species the
females are hornless, and in both the alarm-call is a shrill whistle.
Although the Red Rhébuck is so similar in shape, coloration, and
general appearance that it looks like a miniature Reedbuck, in its
habits and mode of life it differs entirely from that species. The
Reedbuck, as its name implies, loves the neighbourhood of rivers and
lakes and swamps, and is never found far away from water. It does
not occur in herds, but in small families, a male and female usually
living together, the latter often accompanied by its last year’s kid.
It is worthy of remark, however, that the Reedbuck though, as a rule,
it is a dweller on level ground on the borders of rivers and lakes,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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