Our first knowledge of this species is due to the great explorer Livingstone. When in the Barotse country beyond Libonta, in November 1853, he found “the wild animals in enormous herds, and fared sumptuously. It was grievous, however,” he adds, “to shoot the lovely creatures, they were so tame.” While waiting for an answer to a message sent to a native chief he “lay looking at the graceful forms of the beautiful pokus, lechès, and other antelopes.” In a footnote to this passage in his ‘Missionary Travels’ he informs us that the Poku “is a new species which he proposes to name after the African traveller Major Vardon.” We do not believe that Livingstone ever published a description of his species, but in the same work (p. 71) will be found a full-page plate, from the inimitable pencil of Joseph Wolf, illustrating the “New African Antelopes (Poku and Lechè) discovered by Oswell, Murray, and Livingstone.” In 1864 we have a further contribution to our knowledge of this animal from the pen of Sir John Kirk. In his article on the Mammals of Zambesia read before the Zoological Society of London on December 13th of that year, he tells us that the Poku “is one of the three water-antelopes common to the marshes of the Chobi and Zambesi. With the Lechè it often mixes, the habits of the two being very similar, the Poku being less aquatic and being found more often on dry ground. It is known by its smaller size, its more erect carriage, and its plumper neck. The horns are less turned backwards, and partake more of the aspect of the Reit-bock.” Mr. Selous’s excellent field-notes on the Poku, contained in the ‘Proceedings’ of the same Society for 1881, and subsequently reprinted in his ‘Hunter’s Wanderings,’ deserve to be quoted at full length:--