Genus I.COBUS.

Size large. Horns (in male only) long, sublyrate, and ringed for the greater part of their length. Suborbital gland rudimentary. Skull with a deep hollow in the middle of the forehead; no lachrymal depression; a large lachrymal fissure; and the premaxillæ reaching the very long nasals. Tail long, reaching to the hocks, with a ridge of hair on the upper surface, and tufted at the end.

Distribution.Africa south of the Atlas.

UnderCobus, the proper Latin form of Sir Andrew Smith’s termKobus(taken, no doubt, from the so-called “Kob” Antelope), we follow Flower and Lydekker in uniting the generaCobus,Adenota, andHydrotragusof some authors.

The group thus formed contains 11 species which may be arranged in two sections as follows:—

Section I. (Cobus).

Larger in size; fur grizzled; neck maned.

Section II. (Adenota).

Size smaller; fur above uniform rufous; neck not maned.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXII.J. Smit del & lith.Hanhart imp.The Common Waterbuck.COBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS.Published by R. H. Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXII.

J. Smit del & lith.

Hanhart imp.

The Common Waterbuck.

COBUS ELLIPSIPRYMNUS.

Published by R. H. Porter.

Antilope ellipsiprymnus,Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1833, p. 47;id.Penny Enc. ii. p. 88 (1834);Wagn.Schr. Säug. iv. p. 432 (1843);id.op. cit. v. p. 434;Peters, Säug. Mossamb. p. 189 (1852) (Zambesia).Aigocerus ellipsiprymnus,Harr.Wild Anim. S. Afr. p. 71, pl. xiv. (1840);id.Wild Sport S. Afr. p. 387 (1838), ed. 5, p. 351 (1852).Kobus ellipsiprymnus,Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Mamm. pls. xxviii. & xxix. (1840);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 130;id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850);id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. p. 86 (1873);id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (3) iv. p. 296 (1859) (White Nile,Petherick);Gerrard, Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 239 (1862);Scl.P. Z. S. 1864, p. 101 (Uzaramo,Speke);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 176 (1869);Drummond, Large Game S. Afr. p. 426 (1875);Brehm, Thierl. iii. p. 224, fig. (animal) (1880);Flow. & Gars.Cat. Ost. Coll. Surg. p. 268 (1884);Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 131 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 159 (1892);id.N. L. M. ix. p. 172 (1887);Nicolls & Egl. Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 44 (1892);True, Pr. U. S. N. M. xv. p. 471 (Taveta, B. E. A.) (1892).Antilope(Aigoceros)ellipsiprymna,Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 180 (1842).Kobus ellipsiprymnus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 159 (1843).Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus,A. Smith, S. Afr. Q. J. ii. p. 186 (1835).Cervicapra ellipsiprymnus,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 195 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 147 (1848).Heleotragus ellipsiprymnus,Kirk, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 658 (Zambesia).Cobus ellipsiprymnus,Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 284;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 758;id.Hunter’s Wanderings, p. 218 (1881);Crawshay, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 651 (Nyasaland);Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 288 (1889);Scl.P. Z. S.1891, p. 326, 1892, p. 471, 1893, p. 505, pl. xxxix. (female from life and young), et p. 727;Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 340 (1891);Lyd.Field, lxxvii. p. 980 (1891);id.Horns and Hoofs, p. 223 (1893);Ward, Horn Meas. p. 86 (1892);Thomas, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 504;Bryden, Gun and Camera, p. 504 (1893);Barkley, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 131;Swayne, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 316 (Somaliland);id.Somaliland, p. 307;Matschie, Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 123, fig. (animal) (1895).Cobus, sp. inc.,Scl.P. Z. S. 1892, p. 118 (Somaliland).

Antilope ellipsiprymnus,Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1833, p. 47;id.Penny Enc. ii. p. 88 (1834);Wagn.Schr. Säug. iv. p. 432 (1843);id.op. cit. v. p. 434;Peters, Säug. Mossamb. p. 189 (1852) (Zambesia).

Aigocerus ellipsiprymnus,Harr.Wild Anim. S. Afr. p. 71, pl. xiv. (1840);id.Wild Sport S. Afr. p. 387 (1838), ed. 5, p. 351 (1852).

Kobus ellipsiprymnus,Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Mamm. pls. xxviii. & xxix. (1840);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 130;id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850);id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. p. 86 (1873);id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (3) iv. p. 296 (1859) (White Nile,Petherick);Gerrard, Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 239 (1862);Scl.P. Z. S. 1864, p. 101 (Uzaramo,Speke);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 176 (1869);Drummond, Large Game S. Afr. p. 426 (1875);Brehm, Thierl. iii. p. 224, fig. (animal) (1880);Flow. & Gars.Cat. Ost. Coll. Surg. p. 268 (1884);Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 131 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 159 (1892);id.N. L. M. ix. p. 172 (1887);Nicolls & Egl. Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 44 (1892);True, Pr. U. S. N. M. xv. p. 471 (Taveta, B. E. A.) (1892).

Antilope(Aigoceros)ellipsiprymna,Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 180 (1842).

Kobus ellipsiprymnus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 159 (1843).

Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus,A. Smith, S. Afr. Q. J. ii. p. 186 (1835).

Cervicapra ellipsiprymnus,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 195 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 147 (1848).

Heleotragus ellipsiprymnus,Kirk, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 658 (Zambesia).

Cobus ellipsiprymnus,Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 284;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 758;id.Hunter’s Wanderings, p. 218 (1881);Crawshay, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 651 (Nyasaland);Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 288 (1889);Scl.P. Z. S.1891, p. 326, 1892, p. 471, 1893, p. 505, pl. xxxix. (female from life and young), et p. 727;Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 340 (1891);Lyd.Field, lxxvii. p. 980 (1891);id.Horns and Hoofs, p. 223 (1893);Ward, Horn Meas. p. 86 (1892);Thomas, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 504;Bryden, Gun and Camera, p. 504 (1893);Barkley, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 131;Swayne, P. Z. S. 1894, p. 316 (Somaliland);id.Somaliland, p. 307;Matschie, Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 123, fig. (animal) (1895).

Cobus, sp. inc.,Scl.P. Z. S. 1892, p. 118 (Somaliland).

Vernacular Names:—Waterbuckof the English at the Cape and elsewhere;KringgatorWaterbokof the Dutch;Tumogaof the Bechuanas;Sidumugaof the Amandebele;Ee-tumahaof the Makalakas;Ee-kuloof the Masubias;Umkulamdumboof the Makubas;Mukuloof the Batongas;Gwelung-gweleeof the Masaras (according to Selous);NakodzwiorNyakodzwiof the Ajawa and of the Anyanja;Ipivaof the Angoni;Chuzuof the Achewa, Atonga, Atembuka, Ahenga, and Anyika; andLipuwaof the Ankonde in Nyasaland (Crawshay);Kulu,Kuru, orKuroof the Swahilis (Neumann);Balankaof the Adone Negroes;Balangoof the Somalis (Swayne).

Height about 39 inches; length of body 43 inches. Fur long and coarse, on back blackish, hairs whitish at the base; paler on the flanks, and passing into white on the middle line of the belly and on the inner sides of the hind limbs. A conspicuous white line across the rump reaches down to the inside of the flanks on both sides. Feet dark brown, with a white line round the hoofs and across the upper edge of the false hoofs, which are distinct. Sides of face and forehead dark brown, nose black; muffle moist, naked, black; line round the nose, lips, and chin, and line over the eye extending in front of eye, white. Irregular line round the neck greyish white. Ears hairy, inside white, outside black, brownish at the base, about 7½ inches long. Tail dark brown, beneath white, about 11 inches long, hair beyond 4 inches.

Horns large and strong, lengthened, sublyrate, inclined backwards and then forwards at the tips; strongly ringed in front for three-fourths from their bases.

Femalesimilar, but hornless; teats 4.

Hab.South Africa, from the Limpopo northwards, and along the coast through Nyasaland to German and British East Africa and to the Shebeyli River in Somaliland.

The Waterbuck, which is readily known from all the allied Antelopes by the white ribbon which passes over the rump and is carried down to the thighs on both sides, has, as we shall presently show, an extensive distribution in Africa, but was first described from a specimen obtained in the interior of South Africa. One of the early African travellers—Steedman—met with it in 1832 “about 25 days’ journey north of the Orange River between Latakoo and the western coast.” This somewhat vague locality, which was given by Ogilby when he described Steedman’s specimen before the Zoological Society in March 1833, probably indicates some part of Damaraland.

In 1840 Sir Cornwallis Harris figured this species—not, we must allow, very accurately—in his great work on the ‘Game and Wild Animals of South Africa.’ Although not found within the limits of Cape-land proper, the Waterbuck, Harris tells us, abounded in his days on the margins of the willow-grown Limpopo and its tributaries, in the “rippling waters of which it delights to lave its grizzled sides, immersing itself up to the chin during the heat of the day and rolling in its favourite soiling-pool for hours together.”

Sir Andrew Smith, who visited South Africa about the same period, likewise figures both sexes of this Antelope in his ‘Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa,’ and not perhaps in a more satisfactory manner. He gives, however, a good description of both sexes of the Waterbuck and of its internal anatomy, together with an account of its habits, from which we extract the following particulars:—“This animal, which has, from the time it first became known to the Cape colonists, been designated by them under the name of ‘The Water Bok,’ was not seen by our party till after we had passed to the northward of Kurrichane; and, if we are to trust the evidence of the natives, it is never met with to the southward of the high lands which extend to the eastward of the locality mentioned. To the northward, however, it is a common animal, and is generally found associated in small herds of from eight to ten individuals, near the margins of streams. We were struck from the first with the small proportion of males in these herds, and on remarking upon the circumstance to the aborigines, they gave their testimony in support of the accuracy of our observations. Rarely, in a herd of twelve, were there more than two or three males, and of these seldom more than one which might be regarded as mature. The natives were ofopinion that the sexes were produced in about that proportion, and even made use of the assumed fact in support of the propriety of polygamy as it exists among uncivilized men, asserting that a like disproportion occurred in the human species.

“WhenCobus ellipsiprymnusis feeding it has the appearance of being a clumsy and unprepossessing animal; but, on the contrary, when excited, it is elegant and stately. At such times it holds its head high, and assumes a lively and spirited position. Its pace is a gallop, and generally all the individuals of the herd rush off at the same time, each making the best of its way without endeavouring, as some other of the Antelopes do, to follow in the train of a leader. When disturbed they generally fly from the places where they are discovered towards the higher grounds of the neighbourhood, and if unable to reach them, without passing through water, they manifest neither fear nor disinclination to plunge into the stream—hence the origin of the name by which they are designated by the colonist. Their flesh is in little repute, even with the aborigines, though it is not quite rejected; the dislike to it arises from its being of a hard and stringy texture, and from exhaling a strong urinous odour.”

As regards the present distribution of the Waterbuck in South Africa, we learn from Messrs. Nicolls and Eglington that this stately Antelope is now only rarely met with in some of the unfrequented districts on the northern confines of the Transvaal in the neighbourhood of the Crocodile River and in the low country towards Delagoa Bay. On the coast-lands between the Crocodile River and the Zambesi, as also along the Zambesi itself, and in most of the streams of northern Matabeleland, these authors tell us it is still plentiful. In the low country to the north of Delagoa Bay traversed by Mr. F. V. Kirby, F.Z.S., the Waterbuck, as he informs us in his ‘Haunts of Wild Game,’ is perhaps the commonest Antelope. “It is there everywhere met with along the banks of rivers and streams, and in and about rough stony kopjes near to water, in considerable troops, sometimes as many as forty running together.” Mr. Selous, in his “Notes on African Antelopes,” published in the Zoological Society’s ‘Proceedings’ for 1881, tells us that at that date the Waterbuck was still found on the Upper Limpopo and its tributaries, and on the Zambesi and on all its affluents eastwards of the Victoria Falls was very plentiful. Mr. Selous states that it is most partial to steep stony hills, and is often found at a distance of more than a milefrom the nearest river, to which, however, it always makes when pursued. “Though a heavy-looking beast it can clamber with wonderful speed and sureness of foot up and down the steepest hillsides.”

In some notes on the Antelopes of the Transvaal, kindly furnished to us by Mr. H. M. Barber, the Waterbuck is spoken of as follows:—“This Antelope is perhaps the most common of all, being widely dispersed over the whole of Eastern Africa. At Beira and up the Pungwe River they are indeed plentiful, and are to be seen in large droves, often sixty and a hundred together. From the month of March till August the old bulls are usually separated from the cows, and I have seen as many as fifteen in a troop, yet single bulls are also very frequently found. These creatures all resort to the reeds and rushes and marshes at night to feed, and are very easily shot at daylight when thus occupied. Shortly after sunrise they usually stray away from the river to higher ground, where a clear view can be got all round so as to see any approaching enemy.

“It is not uncommon to find single bulls hidden in thickets either on the river banks or some distance away. When thus hidden they will often allow one to approach to within a few yards before breaking cover. If not much frightened they mostly trot away, and as a rule do not go very far before stopping, thus giving the hunter a chance of approaching them again. The Beira Waterbuck has by no means such large horns as those further down the coast on the Olifants River, near Delagoa Bay, and their horns have the peculiarity of being more upright and closer together.

“From the habits of these creatures they fall an easy prey to lions and leopards, who seem to live principally upon them. Their flesh is very coarse and stringy, and is only eaten by the hunter when nothing better can be got.”

Passing to the north of the Zambesi we find Mr. Crawshay recording the Waterbuck as by far the commonest of the Antelopes which go in herds in Nyasaland; all over the Protectorate, he says, this Antelope is plentiful both on the east and west coast of the Lake and on the plains of the Shiré River. Mr. Crawshay adds the following particulars as to its habits in Nyasaland:—“Waterbuck are always found in greatest numbers on large swampy plains overgrown with coarse grass, tall reeds, and papyrus, where in the wet season it is almost impossible to get at them. Unlike other Antelopes, except the Reedbuck, they do not appear to leave the lowlands inthe rains, but keep to the plains all the year round; apparently they revel in almost impassable swamps, where only Elephants, Buffaloes, and Reedbucks care to stay, and I have occasionally followed them in mud and water almost waist-deep. In such places one has to undergo cruel torture from reed-cuts and mosquitoes, the latter of the fiercest type and even in broad noonday most vicious. Nature has provided the Waterbuck with a tougher hide and coarser hair than any other of its kind; but even these are not proof against the rank tall ‘mabandi’ grass and spear-like ‘matele’ reeds, and I have noticed that the legs of some of those that I have killed have suffered considerably, the skin on the fetlocks and pasterns being cut clean through.”

Proceeding northwards to German East Africa we findCobus ellipsiprymnusincluded in Matschie’s volume on the Mammals of that colony. Herr Neumann has transmitted specimens to Berlin from Tanga, and Herr von Höhnel is given as an authority for its occurrence on the Pangani. Speke also met with it in Uzaramo, where it was numerous in the jungles along the Kingani River. In British East Africa, as we are told by Mr. Jackson, the Waterbuck is common everywhere south of Lake Baringo near fresh water, and is also found on many of the saltwater creeks on the coast. It is particularly plentiful on the banks of the Tana River, and in the Kilimanjaro district, where Sir John Willoughby and his party (see ‘East Africa and its Big Game’) and Dr. Abbott also met with it. “Like most bush-loving Antelopes,” Mr. Jackson says, “it is fairly easy to stalk, but is a very tough beast, and takes a good deal of killing, if not hit in the right place. Its flesh, though much relished by the natives, is coarse and rank—indeed that of an old bull is almost uneatable.” Mr. Gedge, who was at one time Mr. Jackson’s companion in East Africa, writes to us that on one occasion in Buddu, a province of Uganda, he fell in with, and shot, a solitary buck of this species, of a light, almost fawn-colour, and adds that their colour varies from a light brown to an almost dark slate in different localities. He considers it one of the commonest Antelopes in British East Africa. In Somaliland the Waterbuck was found on the Webbe Shabeleh by Capt. Swayne and Col. Arthur Paget in the spring of 1894. In his excellent volume on his Somali journeys Captain Swayne tells us that he found it very plentiful all along the banks of the river as far as he followed the stream. “They lie up in the dense forest which clothes both banks along the water’sedge, and go out to feed in herds on the open grass-flats outside the belts of forest.”

Whether the Waterbuck of the White Nile, referred by Gray and Heuglin toCobus ellipsiprymnus, is of this species or belongs toC. defassa, is perhaps a little doubtful. We should be inclined to think that the latter reference is more likely to be correct.

In European menageries the Waterbuck is not usually to be met with, though there have been occasional specimens in some of the gardens in Holland and Germany. Sclater saw a pair at Amsterdam in June last. The Zoological Society of London received their first specimen of this Antelope (a male) in June 1890, and a female in May 1891. Both of these animals were obtained in British East Africa, and were presented to the Society by Mr. G. S. Mackenzie, F.Z.S. In 1893 the pair bred and a young female was born in the Menagerie on the 4th May, furnishing, so far as is known, the first instance of this animal having reproduced in captivity. The mother and young were figured by Smit in the Society’s ‘Proceedings’ for 1893, and the figures are repeated in our Plate XXXII., where a head of the male of the same pair is also introduced in the background.

In the British Museum will be found a fine mounted pair of this Antelope from Mashonaland (Selous), and a good series of skulls from various localities, amongst which are examples from Nyasaland (Sir H. H. Johnston) and from the banks of the Webbe in Somaliland (Swayne).

August, 1896.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXIII.J. Smit del. & lith.Hanhart imp.The Sing-sing.COBUS UNCTUOSUS.Published by R. H. Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXIII.

J. Smit del. & lith.

Hanhart imp.

The Sing-sing.

COBUS UNCTUOSUS.

Published by R. H. Porter.

Cervus sing-sing,Bennett, Rep. Counc. Z. S. L. 1832, p. 5 (nom. nud.).Antilope sing-sing,Waterh.Cat. Mamm. Z. S. L. p. 41 (1838).Antilope koba,Ogilby, Penny Cycl. i. p. 79 (1834);id.P. Z. S. 1836, p. 103 (necErxl.).Antilope unctuosa,Laurillard, Diet. Un. d’H. N. i. p. 622 (1847);Wagn.Schreb. Säug. iv. p. 434 (1843).Antilope defassa, var.senegalensis,Wagn.Säug. v. p. 435 (1855).Kolus sing-sing,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 159 (1843).Kobus sing-sing,Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 131;id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 87 (1873);Gerrard, Cat. Bones, p. 239.Cobus sing-sing,Scl.Cat. Vert. p. 144 (1883).Adenota sing-sing,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 174 (1869).Cobus defassus,Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 224 (1893).Cobus defassa,Scl.P. Z. S. 1892, p. 471.Cobus unctuosus,Scl.P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727.

Cervus sing-sing,Bennett, Rep. Counc. Z. S. L. 1832, p. 5 (nom. nud.).

Antilope sing-sing,Waterh.Cat. Mamm. Z. S. L. p. 41 (1838).

Antilope koba,Ogilby, Penny Cycl. i. p. 79 (1834);id.P. Z. S. 1836, p. 103 (necErxl.).

Antilope unctuosa,Laurillard, Diet. Un. d’H. N. i. p. 622 (1847);Wagn.Schreb. Säug. iv. p. 434 (1843).

Antilope defassa, var.senegalensis,Wagn.Säug. v. p. 435 (1855).

Kolus sing-sing,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 159 (1843).

Kobus sing-sing,Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 131;id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 87 (1873);Gerrard, Cat. Bones, p. 239.

Cobus sing-sing,Scl.Cat. Vert. p. 144 (1883).

Adenota sing-sing,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 174 (1869).

Cobus defassus,Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 224 (1893).

Cobus defassa,Scl.P. Z. S. 1892, p. 471.

Cobus unctuosus,Scl.P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727.

Vernacular Name:—Sing-singof the natives on the Gambia (Whitfield).

Height at shoulder from 39 to 45 inches. Body above sandy brown, hairs beneath whitish; flanks rather browner, in contrast to the conspicuous white rump. Upper part of the ears outside and their rims blackish, inside filled with long white hairs. Hairs of neck long and thin, rather paler in colour than the back. Front of face brown like the back, but rather darker; eye-stripe, line round the naked black muzzle, and chin white. Inner sides of limbs white. Feet below the knees blackish, with slight white lines round thehoofs. Tail thin, above brown like the back, beneath white, tip black; length about 14 inches.

Horns rising backwards nearly in a line with the forehead, then turning upwards, strongly ringed; length along the curve about 26 inches.

Female.Similar to male but hornless, and slightly smaller in size.

Hab.Senegal and Gambia.

The Sing-sing of Western Africa appears to have first come to the notice of European naturalists in the year 1831, when a living pair of this Antelope were brought to England, of which one, we are told, went to the Surrey Zoological Gardens, and the other to the Zoological Society’s collection in Regent’s Park. In the ‘Report of the Council of the Zoological Society,’ read at the Anniversary Meeting in 1832, this animal is entered in the list of mammals exhibited in the Society’s Gardens (drawn up, we believe, by Mr. Bennett) as the “Sing-sing Deer (Cervus sing-sing)” In Waterhouse’s Catalogue of the Mammals in the Society’s Museum published in 1838, the same animal (then in the Museum) is entered more correctly as “Antilope sing-sing” but the specific term is attributed to “Ogilby.” In neither case, however, was any description added to the specific name. It is curious also that Ogilby, to whom the specific term “sing-sing” is attributed by Waterhouse, in his article upon Antelopes published in 1834 in the first volume of the ‘Penny Cyclopædia,’ did not use this name, but referred the animal in question, of which a very fair figure was given, to the “Koba” of Buffon, and called it “Antilope koba.” Ogilby appears to have taken the same view in his remarks on certain Antelopes published in the Zoological Society’s ‘Proceedings’ for 1836; but the “Koba” of Buffon, as we have already shown (Vol. I. p. 60), is a name of very uncertain application, and certainly not to be attributed to this species.

Gray, who likewise adopted the specific name “sing-sing” for this Antelope, appears first to have published a description of it under that name in the letterpress of the ‘Knowsley Menagerie’ in 1850, and in the ‘Proceedings’ of the Zoological Society for the same year. In the meanwhile, however, the nameAntilope unctuosahad been bestowed upon it by Laurillard, in the first volume of the ‘Dictionnaire Universelle d’Histoire Naturelle,’ published in 1847, from a specimen living in the Menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes.There seems no doubt, therefore, that we ought to adopt Laurillard’s name for this Antelope, bestowed upon it because of its somewhat greasy fur.

Further confusion in its synonymy was caused from its being supposed by Gray and by many subsequent authors, nearly up to the present time, to be identical with the Defassa Antelope of Eastern Africa.

Gray, who probably derived his information from Whitfield, Lord Derby’s collector, tells us that this animal is called “Sing-sing” by the negroes of the Gambia, who do not think their flocks of cattle will be healthy or fruitful unless they have a tame Sing-sing in their company. The English on the Gambia are said to call it the “Jackass Deer,” and its flesh, we are told, is very strong, unpleasant, and scarcely palatable. Little, we regret to say, if anything, has been added to our knowledge of the habits of the Sing-sing in a state of nature and its range since the publication of Gray’s notes. None of the recent explorers of the western districts of Africa appear to have met with it, so that we may presume that its proper home is Senegal and the Gambia.

In captivity, however, singularly enough, the Sing-sing, as it is habitually called, is by no means scarce, and specimens of it may usually be found in the larger Zoological Gardens of the Continent. In several of these, for example at Antwerp and Berlin, and we believe in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, the Sing-sing has bred and produced young. In our own Zoological Gardens, as has been already stated, the first specimen of the Sing-sing was received in 1831 or 1832, but, so far as we can ascertain from reference to the Society’s books, no other examples were obtained until 1867 and 1868, in which years two females of this species were added to the collection. In December 1885 an adult male was obtained, and in November 1886 an adult pair was received in exchange from the Jardin des Plantes, Paris.

Our illustration of the Sing-sing (Plate XXXIII.) has been prepared by Mr. Smit from the last-named pair, the female of which is still living in the Menagerie.

August, 1896.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXIV.J. Smith del & lith.Hanhart imp.Crawshay’s WaterbuckCOBUS CRAWSHAYIPublished by R. H. Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXIV.

J. Smith del & lith.

Hanhart imp.

Crawshay’s Waterbuck

COBUS CRAWSHAYI

Published by R. H. Porter.

Cobus crawshayi,Sclater, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 723.

Vernacular Name:—Chuzwiof the Awembas and the people of Itawa and Kabwiri (Crawshay).

Rather smaller in size thanC. ellipsiprymnus, but generally resembling it, the animal being covered with the same harsh, lengthened, thinly spread hairs. But the colour is considerably darker, being of a dark iron-grey on the dorsal surface, which passes into blackish on the back of the neck, upper portion of the limbs, and tail. This colour gets gradually lighter and more greyish on the flanks, and passes on each side into whitish on the belly. There is no sign of the distinct rump-band which is so clearly marked onC. ellipsiprymnus, where it is bordered on each side by dark grey; but in the present species the whole anal disk is white, separated on the dorsal line by the dark medial streak which passes into the short black bushy tail. The whole length of the flat skin in the present example is about 56 inches, the length of the tail about 15 inches.

Horns hardly distinguishable from those ofC. ellipsiprymnus. Those of type 24 inches in length along the curve, and strongly ringed to near their extremities, which are about 11·5 inches apart.

Hab.District of Lake Mweru in British Central Africa.

Mr. Alfred Sharpe, F.R.G.S., H.B.M. Vice-Consul in Southern Nyasaland, has twice made expeditions into the little-known district of Lake Mweru, which lies about 100 miles west of the south end of Lake Tanganyika. Onhis second journey in 1892, of which he has given an excellent account in the ‘Geographical Journal’ for 1893[5], Mr. Sharpe first encountered specimens of this Waterbuck, of which he sent to Sclater the following particulars:—“The first time I saw this Waterbuck I was close to Lake Mweru on mysecondjourney there (Sept. 1892). I was only one day’s march from Crawshay’s Station[6]on the Lake, in a piece of rather dense bush, when my boys pointed out some beasts to me. From their bluish colour I thought at first they were buffaloes, but, on approaching nearer, I saw that they had the horns and general appearance of the Waterbuck (Cobus ellipsiprymnus) so common in Nyasaland. They were, however, not the Common Waterbuck, as, besides being much darker, they had no white ring on their buttocks. Before I could get a shot, however, they were away.

Fig. 31.Skull and horns ofCobus crawshayi.(P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727.)

Fig. 31.

Skull and horns ofCobus crawshayi.

(P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727.)

“On reaching Crawshay’s house at Rhodesia on the following day, one of the first things he said to me was, ‘Now I am going to tell you about a new beast that I have found here.’ I replied at once, ‘I know what it is—a new Waterbuck.’ And so it was! Subsequently I obtained and sent you home an imperfect skin of this animal.”

Mr. Sharpe’s skin of this Antelope reached Sclater along with others forwarded by Mr. Crawshay, and furnished the materials for the description of the new species which was read by Sclater before the Zoological Society in November 1893. Sclater proposed to call the new Waterbuck after Mr. Crawshay, who was its first discoverer, and who, besides this, has written a series of excellent field-notes on the Antelopes of Nyasaland[7].

A letter subsequently received by Sclater from Mr. Crawshay contained the following remarks on his new discovery:—“Amongst the specimens sent to you the Waterbuck perhaps most interests me, as I fancy it must be of a new species. It most resemblesCobus ellipsiprymnus—the Common Waterbuck of Nyasa and Southern Africa—and may be termed the Waterbuck proper of Mweru. It is the ‘Chuzwi’ of the Awemba and the people of Itawa and Kabwiri, as opposed to the much more common and numerous red Vardon’s Waterbuck (Cobus vardoni), which is known by the same people as ‘Sayula.’

“In make and shape the Mweru buck is quite similar toC. ellipsiprymnus, and has the same shaggy coat and powerful ovine scent, but in size it is a trifle smaller, and in habits apparently it is rather different.

“In colouring and marking there exists a very appreciable difference, especially in the marking. The back and flanks of the Mweru species are of dark steel-blue, verging almost on black. The face, knees, hocks, fetlocks, and coronets of the feet are quite black—a glossy coal-black. Over the rump the broad crescent-shaped band of white found inC. ellipsiprymnusis absent, the bluish black on the rump gradually toning down into dirty grey at the root of the tail and between the haunches.

“Thus ‘Kringgat,’ the name by which the Dutch of Southern Africa know the Waterbuck, would not be characteristic of the Mweru animal.

“In the case ofC. ellipsiprymnusrunning from one, the white band over the rump is so conspicuous a feature as to catch the eye in itself, and draw attention to the form of the animal disappearing between the trunks of trees,where otherwise in many instances it would escape notice. But with the Mweru Waterbuck running from one, the absence of the white band is at once apparent. I noticed the deficiency before even examining a specimen at close quarters.

“The ‘Chuzwi’ of Mweru is not very plentiful in either Itawa or Kabwiri; all told, during the year I was at Mweru, I doubt if I saw fifty, though of Vardon’s Waterbuck I saw many thousands. It is generally met with in hilly forest country—sometimes on steep rough ground—where Vardon’s Waterbuck does not go, and where one would scarcely expect to seeC. ellipsiprymnus.

“I once came upon a troop of five females on the very topmost ridge of the mountains overlooking the Lualaba River—at the most northern point of Mweru Lake—where there were ‘Klipspringers,’ and where climbing with a rifle was anything but easy.

“In all I shot four specimens, two males and two females, all full-grown. Of these I preserved the complete skulls and hides of the males and the hide of one female.

“The larger of the two males was a solitary animal, shot in the forest, near Mputa’s, Kabwiri, east coast of Lake Mweru, September 10th, 1892. The horns measured on the straight 22¼ inches, on the curve 24⅝ inches.

“The other male, which was a smaller animal but had as good horns, and one of the females (the one preserved) were shot on the cliffs north of Karembwi’s, Kabwiri, east coast of Lake Mweru, July 27th, 1892.

“The horns of this male measured on the straight also 22¼ inches, on the curve 24½ inches.

“The second female I shot for meat on the left bank of the Choma River, about due north of Lake ‘Mweru ya Matipa’—the ‘Mweru of Mud,’ as the natives know the smaller Lake Mweru to the east of Lake Mweru proper—October 27th, 1892. The skins of these animals subsequently lost much of their dark colouring, a considerable quantity of the hair coming out (as it will do with the very movable coats of Waterbuck) and the remainder becoming lighter in drying.”

Our figure of this Waterbuck (Plate XXXIV.) has been taken by Mr. Smit from the typical male specimen now in the British Museum.

August, 1896.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXV.J. Smit del. & lith.Hanhart imp.Penrice’s Waterbuck.COBUS PENRICEI.Published by R. H. Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXV.

J. Smit del. & lith.

Hanhart imp.

Penrice’s Waterbuck.

COBUS PENRICEI.

Published by R. H. Porter.

Cobus penricei,Rothsch. Nov. Zool. ii. p. 32, pl. iv. fig. 1 (1895);Bryden, Field, vol. lxxxvii. p. 653 (April 25, 1896).

Vernacular Name:—Kring-hartof the Trek-Boers of Benguela.

Of about the size ofC. ellipsiprymnusand its allies (height at shoulders 45 inches), but at once distinguishable by its intensely blackish colour. Muzzle whitish; face black, with rufous hairs between the horns. Stripe over eye white. Ears outside rufous brown, with blackish tips and edges, inside white. Sides of face, neck, and body deep brownish black, plentifully interspersed with reddish-brown hairs, which are white at the base and give the effect of a “blue-roan.” This colour is more conspicuous on the belly, where the hairs are longer, but much less so on the legs and hind half of the back, which parts are almost uniform brownish black. A slight white ring round the hoofs. Tail above black, beneath white. A large patch of white on the upper throat.

Hornsshorter and stouter than in the allied species; length along the curve in three specimens 19, 24½, and 28 inches.

Femalesimilar, but without horns, and ears less rufous and more brown.

Hab.Interior of Benguela, Angola.

This Waterbuck is certainly very closely allied to Crawshay’s Waterbuck, and it is not easy to point out any material points of difference. The only specimens yet obtained being at Tring and those ofC. crawshayiin theBritish Museum, we have not been able to make a direct comparison. But it would appear that the present animal is generally more blackish in colour and has shorter and stouter horns. Besides this, the respective localities of the two forms are so remote that it would not be safe to unite them without evidence that the same animal occurs in intermediate localities.

Mr. G. W. Penrice, the discoverer of this Antelope, and after whom it has been named by Mr. Rothschild, is resident, we are informed, at Cabo Submarino, near Benguela, the port and capital of the Province of the same name in the Portuguese Colony of Angola. During his hunting excursions in the interior Mr. Penrice came across specimens of it “near Bongo, on the banks of the Kuvali River, about one hundred miles south-east of Benguela and fifty miles from Caconda.” In a letter to Mr. Rowland Ward, Mr. Penrice says that it is “pretty numerous” in this locality, but “is not found nearer the coast.” He adds that these Antelopes “have a strong smell, and that he has often smelt them before sighting them. As a rule the bulls and cows are found in separate troops.”

An account of Penrice’s Waterbuck has been given by Mr. H. A. Bryden, in an article published in ‘The Field’ of April 25th last; but few additional particulars are furnished concerning it, although a list of other hunting-trophies obtained by Mr. Penrice in the same district is added. As regards Benguela, Mr. Bryden tells us that it is a most difficult country to hunt in, it being almost impossible to keep horses alive there, and the bush being very thick and nearly impenetrable, while the climate, especially near the coast, is not healthy. Nevertheless, we hope it may not be long before we get from some of our energetic sportsmen further information respecting this little-known species of Waterbuck.

Our Plate, which represents both sexes of it, has been prepared by Mr. Smit, by the kind permission of Mr. Rothschild, from the typical specimens in the Tring Museum.

August, 1896.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXVI.Wolf del. J. Smit lith.Hanhart imp.The Defassa Waterbuck.COBUS DEFASSAPublished by R. H. Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXVI.

Wolf del. J. Smit lith.

Hanhart imp.

The Defassa Waterbuck.

COBUS DEFASSA

Published by R. H. Porter.

Antilope defassa,Rüpp.Neue Wirbelth. p. 9, pl. iii. (1835–40);Reichenb.Säugeth. iii. p. 133 (part.);Wagn.Schreb. Säugeth. iv. p. 423 (1844).Redunca defassa,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus., Säugeth. p. 182 (1842).Cervicapra defassa,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 195 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 147 (1848).Kobus defassa,Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);Hengl.Ant. u. Büff. p. 15 (1863);id.Reise, ii. p. 109 (1877);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 176 (1869);Matschie, Sitz. Ges. nat. Fr. 1892, p. 134.Kobus defassus,Jackson, in Badm. Libr., Big Game Shooting, pp. 285, 304;Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. de P.-B. ix.) p. 130.Cobus defassus,Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 140;Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 224 (1893) (partim).Cobus defassa,Matschie, Säugeth. Ost-Afr. p. 124 (1895);Scl.P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727;id.P. Z. S. 1895, p. 868 (Lake Stephanie).Kolus sing-sing,Gray, List Mamm. B. H. p. 159 (1843) (partim).Kobus sing-sing,Gray, Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 87 (1873);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850) (partim).Kobus sing-sing(?),Scl.P. Z. S. 1864, p. 101 (Uganda,Speke).Ant. defassa, var.abyssinica,Wagn.Schreb. Säug. v. p. 435 (1855).

Antilope defassa,Rüpp.Neue Wirbelth. p. 9, pl. iii. (1835–40);Reichenb.Säugeth. iii. p. 133 (part.);Wagn.Schreb. Säugeth. iv. p. 423 (1844).

Redunca defassa,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus., Säugeth. p. 182 (1842).

Cervicapra defassa,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 195 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 147 (1848).

Kobus defassa,Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);Hengl.Ant. u. Büff. p. 15 (1863);id.Reise, ii. p. 109 (1877);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 176 (1869);Matschie, Sitz. Ges. nat. Fr. 1892, p. 134.

Kobus defassus,Jackson, in Badm. Libr., Big Game Shooting, pp. 285, 304;Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. de P.-B. ix.) p. 130.

Cobus defassus,Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 140;Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 224 (1893) (partim).

Cobus defassa,Matschie, Säugeth. Ost-Afr. p. 124 (1895);Scl.P. Z. S. 1893, p. 727;id.P. Z. S. 1895, p. 868 (Lake Stephanie).

Kolus sing-sing,Gray, List Mamm. B. H. p. 159 (1843) (partim).

Kobus sing-sing,Gray, Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 99 (1852);id.Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 15 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 87 (1873);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 15 (1850) (partim).

Kobus sing-sing(?),Scl.P. Z. S. 1864, p. 101 (Uganda,Speke).

Ant. defassa, var.abyssinica,Wagn.Schreb. Säug. v. p. 435 (1855).

Vernacular Names:—Defassa(Amharic) of the Abyssinians;Om hetehet(Arabic), converted by Baker intoMehedéhet;BuraorChorain Kordofan;KuruandNsummain Uganda.

Size large, about 46 to 50 inches in height at the withers. Above rufous brown, hairs at base greyish white; belly and inner side of limbs white; rumpwhite. Face above chestnut-red, sides of face and eye-stripe white. Ears long (about 8 inches), pointed, rufous at back, white inside; line round nose and chin white. Hairs on neck long and harsh. Feet below knees blackish brown, passing into black towards the hoofs; tail above like the back, otherwise whitish, about 12 inches long, tuft of hairs beyond 4 inches.

Femalesimilar but without horns; teats four (Rüppell).

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