The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 2 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
_Kobus lechee_, =Nicolls et Egl.= Sportsm. in S. Afr. p. 42, pl.
vii. fig. 22 (1892).
VERNACULAR NAMES:--_Leche_ or _Leegwee_ of the Makalolos. _Inya_
of the Masubias; _Oonya_ of the Makubias (_Selous_).
Size nearly equal to that of the large Waterbucks of the first section
of the genus (height at withers 40–41 inches), although the general
form is more graceful. Colour fulvous, slightly paler than in _C.
thomasi_, which this species resembles in having well-defined black
markings running down the legs, but which are succeeded below by white
rings above the hoofs. Backs of both fore and hind pasterns quite
naked, a character which distinguishes this species from all its
allies. Pale areas round eyes and ears not sharply defined; back of
ears not black-tipped. Muzzle, lips, chin, and belly white as usual.
Tail slender, with a black tuft, just reaching to the level of the
hocks.
Horns long, slender, and gracefully curved, attaining a length of 26 or
27 inches.
_Female_ similar to the male, but without horns.
_Hab._ Zambesia, extending northwards to Lake Mweru, and
south-westwards to Lake Ngami.
Like the Poku the Lechee was first discovered by Livingstone and
his companions Oswell and Murray, who travelled with him in 1849
on his first journey to Lake Ngami. After leaving the lake, on
descending the valley of the River Zouga, he tells us (‘Missionary
Travels,’ p. 71):--“We discovered an entirely new species of Antelope,
called ‘lechè’ or ‘lechwi.’ It is a beautiful water-antelope of a
light brownish-yellow colour. Its horns--exactly like those of the
_Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus_, the water-buck, or ‘_tumōga_’ of
the Bechuanas--rise from the head with a slight bend backwards, then
curve forwards at the points. The chest, belly, and orbits are nearly
white, the front of the legs and ankles deep brown. From the horns,
along the nape to the withers, the male has a small mane of the same
yellowish colour with the rest of the skin, and the tail has a tuft
of black hair. It is never found a mile from water; islets in marshes
and rivers are its favourite haunts, and it is quite unknown except in
the central humid basin of Africa. Having a good deal of curiosity, it
presents a noble appearance as it stands gazing with head erect at the
approaching stranger. When it resolves to decamp, it lowers its head,
and lays its horns down to the level with the withers; it then begins
with a waddling trot, which ends in its galloping and springing over
bushes like the pallahs. It invariably runs to the water and crosses it
by a succession of bounds, each of which appears to be from the bottom.
We thought the flesh good at first, but soon got tired of it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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