The book of antelopes, vol. 4 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 4 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
“I am inclined to think that the Inyala Antelope of British
Central Africa is limited in its range, so far as we yet know, to
the Western and Upper Shiré districts and the Lake Mweru district,
and that it may be of a different form from the Inyala of South-
east Africa, inasmuch as the males retain the white spots and
stripes on the skin to a greater extent, and do not assume such a
grey fur at maturity. The Inyala, locally called Bōō, is a very
rare animal, frequenting dense thickets. Its horns somewhat
resemble those of the Bushbuck, but are much larger
proportionately, much wider apart, and slenderer. They may measure
as much as 22½ inches in length along the curve (I have a pair of
horns giving this measurement). I have only twice seen skins of
the adult animal. They were extraordinarily beautiful in colour,
the females a deep chestnut, with narrow stripes and spots in pure
white, and a black line along the middle of the back from the neck
to the base of the tail; the male purplish-grey, with white
markings.”
[Illustration:
Fig. 106.
Angas’ Antelope, ♂ & ♀.
]
There is also some reason for suspecting that the Inyala, or a nearly
allied form, extends even as far north as British East Africa. This
suspicion rests upon the evidence supplied by a pair of horns, not
specifically distinguishable from those of the typical _Tragelaphus
angasi_, which were procured from the Mau Forest by Mr. F. J.
Jackson, C.B. These horns, which are now in the British Museum, were
exhibited by Sclater before the Zoological Society of London in May
1897, and are figured on p. 455 of the Society’s ‘Proceedings’ for that
year (see fig. 107, p. 147). Unfortunately no skin accompanied the
horns; and the specific determination of the Antelope that bore them is
rendered uncertain on account of the description of the animal given
by the native hunter who killed it. This description, if accurate,
certainly applies to a species of Bushbuck distinct both from the
Inyala and from all the other known species of _Tragelaphus_.
Hence it is earnestly to be hoped that Mr. Jackson will soon be
successful in his attempt to clear up the mystery in which the identity
of this interesting Antelope is involved.
[Illustration:
Fig. 107.
Horns of _Tragelaphus_ sp. inc.
(P. Z. S. 1897, p. 455.)
]
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