The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
Dimensions of a fine male example:--Basal length 4·4 inches, greatest
breadth 2·45, muzzle to orbit 2·35.
Horns thick and heavy, especially in southern specimens, strongly but
closely ridged to within an inch of their tips. In Mr. Neumann’s fine
Zululand specimen there are no less than 25 rings to a horn-length of
3·3 in., and in the same example the circumference of the horns is
about 1·7 in.
_Hab._ South-east Africa from Mozambique to Zululand.
In the Portuguese territory of Mozambique, and so on to Zululand, we
find the place of the Zanzibar Antelope occupied by a nearly allied
but larger species, with much thicker and more strongly ridged horns.
This is Livingstone’s Antelope, discovered by Sir John Kirk during his
companionship with the celebrated traveller after whom he named it. Sir
John Kirk obtained his specimens at Shupanga and Lupata on the Zambesi,
where, he says, it is called “Ramsa” or “Lumdsa,” and described them
in an article on the Mammals of Zambesia, published in the Zoological
Society’s ‘Proceedings’ for 1864. In habits, he tells us, Livingstone’s
Antelope much resembles its ally of Zanzibar; it frequents dense
underwood, and lives in pairs. On being started it runs off quickly,
not unlike a hare, and conceals itself in some tuft of grass or small
bush.
It is probable, as suggested by Sir John Kirk, that the _Antilope
moschata_ of Peters, met with by that distinguished naturalist at
Tette on the Zambesi, should be referred to the present species.
Little more was known of this Antelope until 1893, when the British
Museum received from the well-known African sportsman Mr. A. H. Neumann
specimens of a small Antelope obtained in Northern Zululand in April of
the previous year. On comparing these with the scalp and skull on which
_Nesotragus livingstonianus_ had been based by Sir John Kirk,
Thomas came to the conclusion that they belonged to the same species.
Although the horns of Mr. Neumann’s specimen were stouter and heavier,
the differences appeared to be such as might be attributable to age.
In a letter published in the ‘Field’ newspaper (of September 3rd,
1892) Mr. Neumann has given the following particulars respecting this
Antelope:--
“I have known of the existence of this Antelope in South-eastern Africa
for many years, but have only lately had an opportunity of obtaining a
specimen. The native name for it is ‘Inhlengana.’ It is barely larger
than the tiny Blue-buck of S. Africa, but carries very much larger
horns in proportion to its size. The specimen sent is an old male. The
white hairs on the head are said to be from age, and not general to the
species. This one was killed in North-eastern Zululand, which district
seems to be the southerly limit of its range. It frequents the densely
bushed parts of the low flats between the coast and the Bombo range.
How far north it ranges I cannot say, but I first heard of it in the
neighbourhood of the Lower Limpopo and Komati rivers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account