Genus III.RAPHICERUS.

Accessory hoofs present or absent. No naked glandular spots below ears or tufts on knees. Tail short.

Skull stout and strongly built, with a short broad muzzle. Anteorbital fossæ small but deep, their edges rounded and unridged above and below.

Horns nearly vertical, slender, scarcely ridged.

Distribution.South and East Africa.

The species we refer to this genus may be divided as follows:—

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXVII.Wolf del. Smit lith.Hanhart imp.Fig. 1. The Steinbok.RAPHICEROS CAMPESTRIS.Fig. 2. The Grysbok.RAPHICEROS MELANOTIS.Published by R·H·Porter.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXVII.

Wolf del. Smit lith.

Hanhart imp.

Fig. 1. The Steinbok.

RAPHICEROS CAMPESTRIS.

Fig. 2. The Grysbok.

RAPHICEROS MELANOTIS.

Published by R·H·Porter.

Greisbock,Thunb.Resa, ii. p. 12 (1789); English Transl. ii. p. 11 (1793).Antilope melanotis,Thunb.Mém. Ac. Pétersb. iii. p. 312 (1811);Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. pp. 257 & 262 (1815);Goldf.Schr. Säug. v. p. 1235 (1818);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 459 (1822);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 376 (1827);Licht.Darst. Säug. pl. xii. (♂ & ♀) (1828);J. B. Fisch.Syn. Mamm. p. 465 (1829);Smuts, En. Mamm. Cap. p. 82 (1832);Waterh.Cat. Mamm. Mus. Z. S. (2) p. 42 (1838);Oken, Allg. Nat. vii. p. 1363 (1838);Laurill.Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 623 (1838);Wagn.Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 438 (1844), v. p. 411 (1855);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 413 (1845);Pet.Reise Mossamb., Säug. p. 187 (1852) (Zambesi);Gieb.Säug. p. 318 (1854);Huet, Bull. Soc. Acclim. 1887, p. 488.Antilope tragulus melanotis,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 176 (1814);Forst.Descr. Anim. p. 375 (1844).Tragulus melanotis,A. Sm.S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 213 (1834);Harris, Wild Anim. S. Afr. (fol.) pl. xxvi. fig. 2 (1840).Tragelaphus melanotis,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus. p. 37 (1842).Calotragus melanotis,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 192 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 144; Reprint, p. 68 (1848);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 7 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 118;id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (2) viii. p. 136 (1851);id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 72 (1852);Temm.Esq. Zool. Guin. p. 192 (1855);Gerr.Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 235 (1862);Blyth, Cat. Mamm. Mus. As. Soc. p. 166 (1863);Layard, Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 70 (1861);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 165 (1869);Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 19 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 90 (1873);Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 131 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 159 (1892);Matschie, Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 120 (1895).Nanotragus melanotis,Brooke, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 642;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 762 (distribution);id.Hunt. Wanderings S. Afr. p. 222 (1881);Bryden, Kloof and Karroo, p. 300 (1889);W. Scl.Cat. Mamm. Calc. Mus. ii. p. 167 (1891);Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 339 (1891);Nicolls & Egl.Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 26, pl. viii. fig. 29 (head) (1892);Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 219 (1893);Lorenz, Ann. Mus. Wien, ix. p. 60 (1895).Neotragus melanotis,Scl.List Anim. Z. S. (8) p. 145 (1883);id.P. Z. S. 1895, p. 590;Rendall,P. Z. S. 1895, p. 361.Antilope grisea,G. Cuv.Dict. Sci. Nat. ii. p. 244 (1816);Burch.List Mamm. pres. to B. M. p. 6 (1825) (Plettenberg’s Bay);H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 250, v. p. 341 (1827);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842) (necBoddaert).Cerophorus(Cervicapra)grisea,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, p. 75.Oreotragus griseus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 164 (1843).Antilope rubro-albescens,Desmoul.Dict. Class. d’H. N. i. p. 446 (1822).

Greisbock,Thunb.Resa, ii. p. 12 (1789); English Transl. ii. p. 11 (1793).

Antilope melanotis,Thunb.Mém. Ac. Pétersb. iii. p. 312 (1811);Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. pp. 257 & 262 (1815);Goldf.Schr. Säug. v. p. 1235 (1818);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 459 (1822);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 376 (1827);Licht.Darst. Säug. pl. xii. (♂ & ♀) (1828);J. B. Fisch.Syn. Mamm. p. 465 (1829);Smuts, En. Mamm. Cap. p. 82 (1832);Waterh.Cat. Mamm. Mus. Z. S. (2) p. 42 (1838);Oken, Allg. Nat. vii. p. 1363 (1838);Laurill.Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 623 (1838);Wagn.Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 438 (1844), v. p. 411 (1855);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 413 (1845);Pet.Reise Mossamb., Säug. p. 187 (1852) (Zambesi);Gieb.Säug. p. 318 (1854);Huet, Bull. Soc. Acclim. 1887, p. 488.

Antilope tragulus melanotis,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 176 (1814);Forst.Descr. Anim. p. 375 (1844).

Tragulus melanotis,A. Sm.S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 213 (1834);Harris, Wild Anim. S. Afr. (fol.) pl. xxvi. fig. 2 (1840).

Tragelaphus melanotis,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus. p. 37 (1842).

Calotragus melanotis,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 192 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 144; Reprint, p. 68 (1848);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 7 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 118;id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (2) viii. p. 136 (1851);id.Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 72 (1852);Temm.Esq. Zool. Guin. p. 192 (1855);Gerr.Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 235 (1862);Blyth, Cat. Mamm. Mus. As. Soc. p. 166 (1863);Layard, Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 70 (1861);Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 165 (1869);Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 19 (1872);id.Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 90 (1873);Jent.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 131 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 159 (1892);Matschie, Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 120 (1895).

Nanotragus melanotis,Brooke, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 642;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 762 (distribution);id.Hunt. Wanderings S. Afr. p. 222 (1881);Bryden, Kloof and Karroo, p. 300 (1889);W. Scl.Cat. Mamm. Calc. Mus. ii. p. 167 (1891);Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 339 (1891);Nicolls & Egl.Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 26, pl. viii. fig. 29 (head) (1892);Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 219 (1893);Lorenz, Ann. Mus. Wien, ix. p. 60 (1895).

Neotragus melanotis,Scl.List Anim. Z. S. (8) p. 145 (1883);id.P. Z. S. 1895, p. 590;Rendall,P. Z. S. 1895, p. 361.

Antilope grisea,G. Cuv.Dict. Sci. Nat. ii. p. 244 (1816);Burch.List Mamm. pres. to B. M. p. 6 (1825) (Plettenberg’s Bay);H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 250, v. p. 341 (1827);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842) (necBoddaert).

Cerophorus(Cervicapra)grisea,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, p. 75.

Oreotragus griseus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 164 (1843).

Antilope rubro-albescens,Desmoul.Dict. Class. d’H. N. i. p. 446 (1822).

Vernacular Names:—Grysbokof Dutch and English Cape Colonists;Sash-lungwanof Matabilis;Teembaof Makalakas (Selous);Cassenjaat Senna and Tette (Peters).

Height about 22–23 inches. Fur long and coarse, of a deep rich red colour profusely mixed with pure white hairs, whence the name “Grys” or Grey-buck. Under surface paler, but not white. Crown frequently with a black crescentic mark running round it, as in the Steinbok[1]. Ears very large,their backs grey. Limbs red. Accessory hoofs present, but very small, far smaller than in the Oribis. Tail very short, not blackened at its tip.

Skull and horns very like those of a Steinbok, but the nasal bones seem to be shorter, and the premaxillæ do not reach so far backwards. A good adult male skull of this species is, however, a desideratum: we have only been able to examine immature specimens or those deteriorated by confinement.

Hab.South Africa north to the Zambesi and Mozambique.

The Forsters, who visited the Cape in 1775 during their voyage round the world along with the great circumnavigator Cook, furnished Buffon with notices respecting many of the Antelopes which at that time were met with even in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town. Amongst these was the present species, which was accordingly described by Buffon, in the Supplement to his ‘Histoire Naturelle des Animaux Quadrupèdes,’ as the Grysbok or “Chèvre-gris.” About the same period as the Forsters the learned Swedish naturalist Thunberg visited the Cape, and made himself acquainted with this and the other Antelopes of that district. In an article subsequently published by the Academy of St. Petersburg on the Mammals met with during his stay in South Africa, Thunberg named the GrysbokAntilope melanotis, and his specific name has usually been adopted for this species, though a subsequently given termgriseaof G. Cuvier has also been applied to it.

In his ‘Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Säugethiere,’ Lichtenstein has given coloured figures of both sexes of this Antelope from specimens in the Berlin Museum, probably procured by himself. In the days of Lichtenstein (1803–06) the Grysbok was to be found in all the middle and western districts of the Cape Colony amongst the hills, and, according to him, was particularly esteemed as game on account of its tender and delicate flesh.

Harris, in his great work on the ‘Game Animals of South Africa,’ has figured the Grysbok on his 26th plate, along with the Bushbok and the Blaauwbok; he mentions it as, in his time (1836–37), common in the Colony “among the wooded tracts which skirt the coasts.” Describing his hunt with a party of Boers, residing not far from the banks of the Knysna, who had given him a day’s shooting over their best preserves, he speaks of “proteas and large plots of scarlet geraniums, interspersed with patches of purple heath,” as being the “favourite harbour of the roan Grysbok,” and gives an account ofits pursuit as follows:—“Squatted like a hare upon its snug form, this beautiful little animal is rarely to be dislodged until well nigh trodden upon; but the dogs have pushed one out of that bed of fern, and are hunting it directly towards us. Returning again and again upon its old track, it bounds now over the head of the clustering heather, now doubles round the corner of a bush, and now, darting aside into the narrow footpath by which we are advancing, stands a moment with averted head to listen for its pursuers. Finding them close upon its heels, away it flies again, and making a desperate plunge into the heart of a thick shrub, vainly hopes that it may have found an asylum. But thine enemies have again ferreted thee out, cunning one! and disabled by a stray buckshot from theroerof that ruthless Hollander, thou art circling round with dizzy brain and drooping head in quest of a corner wherein thou mayst lie down to die. Alas! Mynheer’s rude hand has seized thee, innocent! and whilst he is fumbling for a knife wherewith to terminate thy helpless struggles, who that hears thy plaintive cries, like those of a new-born babe, or witnesses the infantine simplicity expressed in thy large melting black eye, brimful of dewy tears, can fail inwardly to curse his barbarity?”

In 1861 Mr. E. L. Layard describes the Grysbok as still found in some abundance at the foot of Table Mountain and on the Lion’s Hill in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, though we are somewhat doubtful whether that is the case at the present time.

Messrs. Nicolls and Eglington speak of the Grysbok as being mostly found in the eastern districts of the Colony and on the borders of Natal. Its habits, they state, are solitary and almost identical with those of the Steinbok (R. campestris), except that it invariably frequents hilly, broken, and stony country in preference to open flats. Its flesh, they add, is not particularly good. As regards its range farther north, Mr. Selous tells us that beyond the Limpopo the Grysbok is only met with in certain hilly districts of the more easterly portions of the interior. In Matabeleland it is very scarce, but in all the hilly country of the Victoria Falls and throughout Mashonaland down to the Zambesi it is fairly numerous. Mr. Selous also speaks of it as being met with in the South African territory north of the Zambesi as far as he penetrated; and Peters has recorded its presence, not uncommonly, in the plains of Sena, Tette, and Macanga in Mozambique up to 16° N. latitude.

The Grysbok is included by Matschie in his recently published work on the Mammals of German East Africa, but only upon the ground that it will probably be found to occur there. We are not able to confirm this statement, having never seen specimens of the Grysbok from any locality so far north.

The Grysbok has been occasionally brought alive to Europe, but does not appear to do well in captivity. The first example recorded in the Zoological Society’s register is a female presented by Sir George Grey in 1861. A second specimen was obtained by purchase in 1864, and a third in 1869. In May of the present year a female specimen was presented to the Society by Mr. J. E. Matcham, of Port Elizabeth, but did not live long in the Gardens. From this animal the figure of the Grysbok now given (Plate XXVII. fig. 2) has been coloured by Mr. Smit, though the plate was originally taken by the same artist from a water-colour drawing prepared by Wolf, under the direction of the late Sir Victor Brooke, from some other specimen. This drawing, along with many other original sketches of Wolf’s, is now in the possession of Sir Douglas Brooke.

The National Collection is not well provided with examples of this Antelope. Besides a pair collected by Burchell in 1814 there are in the series only some skulls and skeletons of somewhat doubtful authority. Good fresh specimens of both sexes of the Grysbok, accompanied by their skulls, would therefore form a valuable acquisition to the British Museum.

December, 1895.

Capra grimmia,Thunb.Resa, ii. p. 8 (1789);id.Engl. Transl. ii. p. 7 (1793) (necLinn.) (Cape Town).Antilope campestris, Thunb. Mém. Ac. Pétersb. iii. p. 313 (1811).Calotragus campestris,Gray, Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 71 (1852); Layard, Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 68 (1861);Gerr.Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 235 (1862).Pediotragus campestris,Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 31 (1872); id. Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 100 (1873).Nanotragus campestris,Nicolls & Egl.Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 24, pl. ii. fig. 6 (head) (1892);Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 217 (1893);Jackson, Badm. Big Game Shooting, i. pp. 285 & 301 (1894) (E. Africa);Lorenz, Ann. Mus. Wien, ix. p. 60 (1895).Neotragus campestris,Rendall, P. Z. S. 1895, p. 361.Antilope tragulus,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 176 (1814);Goldf.Schr. Säug. v. p. 1234 (1818);Schinz, Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 392 (1821);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 458 (1822);Licht.Darst. Säug. pl. xiv. (♂ ♀) (1828);J. B. Fisch.Syn. Mamm. p. 464 (1829);Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 81 (1832);Less.Compl. Buff. x. p. 291 (1836);Oken, Allg. Naturg. vii. p. 1362 (1838);Laurill.Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 622 (1839);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842);Forst.Descr. Anim. pp. 36 & 374 (1844);Wagn.Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 436 (1844), v. p. 410 (1855);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 411 (1845);Peters, Reise Mossamb., Säug. p. 187 (1852) (Inhambane);Gieb.Säug. p. 318 (1854);Huet, Bull. Soc. Acclim. 1887, p. 88.Tragelaphus tragulus,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus. p. 37 (1842).Oreotragus tragulus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 164 (1843);id.List Ost. B. M. p. 146 (1847).Calotragus tragulus,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 192 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 144; Reprint, p. 68 (1848);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 7 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 48;id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (2) viii. p. 136 (1851);Temm.Esq. Zool. Guin. p. 192 (1853);Blyth, Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. p. 166 (1863);Drumm.Large Game S. Afr. pp. 395 & 426 (1875) (Zululand).Pediotragus tragulus,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 163 (1869);Jent.N. L. M. ix. p. 173 (1887) (Mossamedes);id.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 134 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 165 (1892);id.N. L. M. xv. p. 265 (1893) (Cunene R.).Nanotragus tragulus,Brooke, P. Z. S. 1872, pp. 642 & 874;Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 283 (distribution);Bocage, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 742;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 762;id.Hunt. Wand. S. Afr. p. 222 (1881);Bryden, Kloof and Karroo, p. 300 (1889);Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Africa, p. 290 (1889);Crawshay, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 654 (Nyasa);W. Scl.Cat. Mamm. Calc. Mus. ii. p. 166 (1891);Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 339 (1891);Lugard, E. Africa, i. p. 540 (1893).Neotragus tragulus,Scl.List Anim. Zool. Soc. (8) p. 145 (1883);id.P. Z. S. 1861, p. 209.Antilope tragulus rupestris,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 177 (1814);Forst.Descr. Anim. p. 376 (1844).Antilope rupestris,Burch.Travels, i. pp. 202, 281 (1822), ii. p. 15 (1824);H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 248, v. p. 340 (1827);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 412 (1845).Tragulus rupestris,A. Sm.S. Afr. Quart. J. ii. p. 212 (1834);Harris, Wild An. S. Afr. pl. xxv. fig. 2 (♂) (1840).Antilope capensis(misprint forcampestris),Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. p. 254 (1815).Antilope ibex,Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. p. 263 (1815);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 376 (1827).Cerophorus(Cervicapra)stenbock,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, p. 75.Cerophorus(Cervicapra)acuticornis,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, pp. 75 & 79;id.Journ. Phys., Aug. 1818, pl. fig. 8 (skull);id.Oken’s Isis, 1819, ii. p. 1095, pl. xii. fig. 8 (skull).Antilope acuticornis,Desm.N. Dict. d’H. N. (2) ii. p. 193 (1816);Schinz, Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 395 (1821);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 460 (1822);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 377 (1827);Flow. & Gars.Cat. Ost. Coll. Surg. ii. p. 275 (1884).Antilope(Raphicerus)acuticornis,H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 252, v. p. 342 (1827);Less.H. N. Mamm. (Compl. Buff.) x. p. 292 (1836);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842).Antilope fulvo-rubescens,Desmoul.Dict. Class. d’H. N. i. p. 446 (1822).Antilope(Raphicerus)subulata,H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 253 (fig. horns), v. p. 342(1827);Less.Compl. Buff. x. p. 292 (1836);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842).Pediotragus tragulus grayi,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 163 (1869).

Capra grimmia,Thunb.Resa, ii. p. 8 (1789);id.Engl. Transl. ii. p. 7 (1793) (necLinn.) (Cape Town).

Antilope campestris, Thunb. Mém. Ac. Pétersb. iii. p. 313 (1811).

Calotragus campestris,Gray, Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 71 (1852); Layard, Cat. S. Afr. Mus. p. 68 (1861);Gerr.Cat. Bones Mamm. B. M. p. 235 (1862).

Pediotragus campestris,Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 31 (1872); id. Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 100 (1873).

Nanotragus campestris,Nicolls & Egl.Sportsm. S. Afr. p. 24, pl. ii. fig. 6 (head) (1892);Lyd.Horns and Hoofs, p. 217 (1893);Jackson, Badm. Big Game Shooting, i. pp. 285 & 301 (1894) (E. Africa);Lorenz, Ann. Mus. Wien, ix. p. 60 (1895).

Neotragus campestris,Rendall, P. Z. S. 1895, p. 361.

Antilope tragulus,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 176 (1814);Goldf.Schr. Säug. v. p. 1234 (1818);Schinz, Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 392 (1821);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 458 (1822);Licht.Darst. Säug. pl. xiv. (♂ ♀) (1828);J. B. Fisch.Syn. Mamm. p. 464 (1829);Smuts, Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 81 (1832);Less.Compl. Buff. x. p. 291 (1836);Oken, Allg. Naturg. vii. p. 1362 (1838);Laurill.Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 622 (1839);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842);Forst.Descr. Anim. pp. 36 & 374 (1844);Wagn.Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 436 (1844), v. p. 410 (1855);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 411 (1845);Peters, Reise Mossamb., Säug. p. 187 (1852) (Inhambane);Gieb.Säug. p. 318 (1854);Huet, Bull. Soc. Acclim. 1887, p. 88.

Tragelaphus tragulus,Rüpp.Verz. Senck. Mus. p. 37 (1842).

Oreotragus tragulus,Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 164 (1843);id.List Ost. B. M. p. 146 (1847).

Calotragus tragulus,Sund.Pecora, K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 192 (1846);id.Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 144; Reprint, p. 68 (1848);Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846);id.Knowsl. Men. p. 7 (1850);id.P. Z. S. 1850, p. 48;id.Ann. Mag. N. H. (2) viii. p. 136 (1851);Temm.Esq. Zool. Guin. p. 192 (1853);Blyth, Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. p. 166 (1863);Drumm.Large Game S. Afr. pp. 395 & 426 (1875) (Zululand).

Pediotragus tragulus,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 163 (1869);Jent.N. L. M. ix. p. 173 (1887) (Mossamedes);id.Cat. Ost. Leyd. Mus. (Mus. Pays-Bas, ix.) p. 134 (1887);id.Cat. Mamm. Leyd. Mus. (op. cit. xi.) p. 165 (1892);id.N. L. M. xv. p. 265 (1893) (Cunene R.).

Nanotragus tragulus,Brooke, P. Z. S. 1872, pp. 642 & 874;Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 283 (distribution);Bocage, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 742;Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 762;id.Hunt. Wand. S. Afr. p. 222 (1881);Bryden, Kloof and Karroo, p. 300 (1889);Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Africa, p. 290 (1889);Crawshay, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 654 (Nyasa);W. Scl.Cat. Mamm. Calc. Mus. ii. p. 166 (1891);Flow. & Lyd.Mamm. p. 339 (1891);Lugard, E. Africa, i. p. 540 (1893).

Neotragus tragulus,Scl.List Anim. Zool. Soc. (8) p. 145 (1883);id.P. Z. S. 1861, p. 209.

Antilope tragulus rupestris,Licht.Mag. nat. Freund. vi. p. 177 (1814);Forst.Descr. Anim. p. 376 (1844).

Antilope rupestris,Burch.Travels, i. pp. 202, 281 (1822), ii. p. 15 (1824);H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 248, v. p. 340 (1827);Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 412 (1845).

Tragulus rupestris,A. Sm.S. Afr. Quart. J. ii. p. 212 (1834);Harris, Wild An. S. Afr. pl. xxv. fig. 2 (♂) (1840).

Antilope capensis(misprint forcampestris),Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. p. 254 (1815).

Antilope ibex,Afzel.N. Act. Ups. vii. p. 263 (1815);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 376 (1827).

Cerophorus(Cervicapra)stenbock,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, p. 75.

Cerophorus(Cervicapra)acuticornis,Blainv.Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, pp. 75 & 79;id.Journ. Phys., Aug. 1818, pl. fig. 8 (skull);id.Oken’s Isis, 1819, ii. p. 1095, pl. xii. fig. 8 (skull).

Antilope acuticornis,Desm.N. Dict. d’H. N. (2) ii. p. 193 (1816);Schinz, Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 395 (1821);Desm.Mamm. ii. p. 460 (1822);Less.Man. Mamm. p. 377 (1827);Flow. & Gars.Cat. Ost. Coll. Surg. ii. p. 275 (1884).

Antilope(Raphicerus)acuticornis,H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 252, v. p. 342 (1827);Less.H. N. Mamm. (Compl. Buff.) x. p. 292 (1836);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842).

Antilope fulvo-rubescens,Desmoul.Dict. Class. d’H. N. i. p. 446 (1822).

Antilope(Raphicerus)subulata,H. Sm.Griff. An. K. iv. p. 253 (fig. horns), v. p. 342(1827);Less.Compl. Buff. x. p. 292 (1836);Gerv.Dict. Sci. Nat. Suppl. i. p. 262 (1840);Less.N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 177 (1842).

Pediotragus tragulus grayi,Fitz.SB. Ak. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 163 (1869).

Vernacular Names:—Steinbokof Dutch and English Colonists;Iquiaof Kaffirs (Drummond);IngnweenaorUmgwenaof Matabilis;Puruhuruof Bechuanas;Ee-peu-neeof Makalakas;Kahuof Masubias;Kimbaof Batongas;Gai-eeof Masaras (Selous);Shipeniof Transvaal Shangeans;Njenaof Swazis (Rendall);Ishahof E. African Swahilis (Hunter).

Size small. General colour bright sandy rufous, richer on the head. Top of muzzle and a horseshoe-shaped marking on the crown generally brown, but these marks are by no means constant. A white supraorbital stripe, much as in the Oribi. No auricular gland. No knee-tufts nor false hoofs present. Tail short, coloured above like the back, below whitish, no black tip.

Skull stoutly built, its upper surface peculiarly roughened and ridged. Premaxillæ reaching to, and articulating with, the nasals.

Horns, in proportion to the size of the animal, longer than in the Oribis, very slender, smooth, and practically unridged throughout. Their direction is nearly vertical, and they are slightly curved forwards.

Dimensions, ♂:—Height at withers 19·5 inches, length of hind foot 9·7, ear 4·2.

Skull: basal length 4·86 inches, greatest breadth 2·68, muzzle to orbit 2·6.

Hab.South Africa, from the Cape to the Zambesi and on the west to the Cunene.

The Steinbok became known to the Forsters and Thunberg through the Dutch settlers at the Cape at about the same date as the Grysbok, and in 1811 received the scientific nameAntilope campestrisfrom the latter author in his memoir, published by the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, to which we have already alluded. Three years later Lichtenstein in his article upon the species of Antilope published in the Magazine of the “Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde” of Berlin, proposed the nameAntilope tragulus, but under this designation united both the Steinbok and the Grysbok, as well as the pale variety of the latter species which the Dutch settlers called the “Bleekbok.” In uniting the Steinbok and Grysbok under one head Lichtenstein was clearly in error, the structural difference presented by theabsence of accessory hoofs, as well as the divergence in the colour of the fur, sufficiently distinguishing the present species from the Grysbok. Lichtenstein no doubt derived his ideas upon this subject from Forster’s manuscripts, as the same view is taken in Forster’s posthumous work ‘Descriptiones Animalium,’ when it was tardily published in 1844. Under these circumstances there can be no doubt, we think, that “campestris” is the proper specific term to be employed for the present species.

In an article upon the Ruminants published by Blainville in the ‘Bulletin of the Société Philomathique’ for 1816 and subsequently enlarged in the ‘Journal de Physique,’ that author described and figured the skull of a specimen which he had observed in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London and called itAntilope acuticornis. On Blainville’s description and figure of this skull Hamilton Smith, in the fifth volume of Griffith’s Cuvier, subsequently established a new genus of Antelopes, “Raphicerus.” Whoever consults this figure and compares it with a skull of the Steinbok will inevitably come to the conclusion that the figure represents the skull of that animal. We have accordingly addedAntilope acuticornisof Blainville, and the further references to it subsequently published, to the synonyms of the Steinbok, and under these circumstances have thought it necessary to give the generic termRaphicerusprecedence as the generic name of the present group over the better known namesCalotragusof Sundevall andPediotragusof Fitzinger.

It would seem also thatAntilope subulataof Hamilton Smith, given in the same work as a second species ofRaphicerus, and taken from another pair of horns, also then in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, may be safely referred to the present species.

Captain Harris, in his ‘Portraits of the Game and Wild Animals of South Africa,’ published in 1840, figures the Steen-bok, as he calls it, along with the Rhebok in his 25th plate, and speaks of it as “common in the Colony.”

In 1861, when Mr. Layard prepared his ‘Catalogue of the Mammals in the Collection of the South African Museum,’ the Steinbok was spoken of as then common throughout the Colony. It is partial, Mr. Layard tells us, “to flat plains covered with bushes” and “selects a spot, in the immediate neighbourhood of which it may constantly be found. When a Steinbok is killed off, a few days suffice to reproduce a new occupant for the favoured spot.”

Messrs. Nicolls and Eglington, in their ‘Sportsman in South Africa’ (one of our most recent authorities on the subject), speak of the Steinbuck as the “most common and widely distributed Antelope of South Africa from Cape Town to the Zambesi, frequenting the open flats either singly or in pairs.” As the hares of the Cape afford little or no sport for coursing, the Steinbok has been employed as their substitute. These authors give us the following notes upon this subject:—“At Kimberley, in Griqualand West, a regular coursing club was organized shortly after the discovery of the diamond fields, and it has been carried on ever since with the greatest success, the colonists being just as much interested in the result of the annual Club Cup as sportsmen are in England over the Waterloo Cup, large sums of money changing hands at the meetings. It requires, however, a really fast powerful greyhound with a lot of bottom to run up on a Steinbuck. As nearly all proprietors strictly preserve the species in Griqualand West, they are there very numerous, perhaps even more so than in the native territories further north. This Antelope commences feeding about sundown, and continues its wanderings during the night, at sunrise retiring under cover of some low thick clump of bush or patch of long grass, where, unless disturbed, it passes the entire day in concealment. As it usually lies asleep during the great heat of the sun, it can then be easily walked up to and readily disposed of with a charge of buckshot. When severely wounded or hard pressed by dogs, it will often take refuge in the burrow of the Aard-vark (Oryctoropus). At all times the Steinbuck is rather a difficult shot with the rifle; but if the half-hour before dusk or sunrise be chosen, some pretty rifle-shooting may be obtained, and a quiet stalk at such times through aveldtwhich they frequent will often well repay the sportsman when larger antelopes are not at hand. The wind has no influence with regard to the direction in which it goes, as it will run either up or down wind. It does not frequent very hilly or thick bush country, and is capable of existing for long periods without water. The Steinbuck is very easily tamed, but invariably becomes blind when kept in captivity for any length of time. The flesh is excellent.”

Mr. Selous, in his valuable notes on South Central African Antelopes read before the Zoological Society of London in June 1881, gives us a list of the various native names of this little Antelope, and says that it is spread all over South Africa from the Cape to the Zambesi, except in the mountainousdistricts and in tracts of very thick bush. North of the Zambesi Mr. Selous did not meet with any Steinboks. But it is certain from the researches of Mr. Crawshay in Nyasaland, of Herr Oscar Neumann in German East Africa, and Mr. Jackson and other authorities in British East Africa, that the Steinbok, or a very closely allied representative, is found, in suitable localities, nearly up to the Tana River. For the present, however, we shall follow Herr Matschie’s views in considering the East-African formRaphicerus neumannias possibly belonging to a distinct species.

From the western frontiers of the Cape Colony the Steinbok, or a very nearly allied form, appears to extend up to the Cunene River in the interior of Angola, whence specimens, referred by M. Du Bocage, with some hesitation, to the Steinbok, were forwarded in 1874 to the Lisbon Museum by M. d’Anchieta.

The only example of the Steinbok registered in the Zoological Society’s Catalogues is a female specimen presented by Sir George Grey, K.C.B., then Governor of the Cape Colony, in 1861. We are not aware of any other examples of this Antelope having been brought to Europe.

Our figure of this species (Plate XXVII. fig. 1) was put on the stone by Mr. Smit from a drawing by Wolf prepared under the directions of the late Sir Victor Brooke. The drawing is now in Sir Douglas Brooke’s possession. We regret to be unable to state from what specimen it was taken.

The National Collection contains a pair of mounted specimens of this Antelope obtained by Wahlberg in Cafferland, and several skins without exact localities. A skull from Port Elizabeth was obtained by Mr. F. C. Selous. Further specimens of both sexes with exact dates and localities would be highly appreciated.

December, 1895.

Nanotragus tragulus,Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 290 (1889) (?).Nanotragus campestris,Jackson, Big Game Shooting, p. 285 (1894) (?).Pediotragus neumanni,Matsch.SB. nat. Freund. 1894, p. 122 (N. Ugogo);id.Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 120.

Nanotragus tragulus,Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Afr. p. 290 (1889) (?).

Nanotragus campestris,Jackson, Big Game Shooting, p. 285 (1894) (?).

Pediotragus neumanni,Matsch.SB. nat. Freund. 1894, p. 122 (N. Ugogo);id.Thierw. Ost-Afr. Säugeth. p. 120.

Vernacular Name:—Dondoroin Ugogo (Neumann).

Similar toR. campestris, but without any black colour on the head.

Hab.East Africa, from the Tana to Nyasaland.

As already stated in our remarks on the preceding species, we are by no means satisfied as to the specific difference of the Steinbok of East Africa from the corresponding form met with south of the Zambesi. But until further evidence on this point is available we will not dissent from the views of Herr Matschie, who has decided that the East-African form is distinct, and has proposed to call it after Herr Oscar Neumann, to whom the Berlin Museum is indebted for its specimens.

Herr Neumann, who has recently returned from a most successful expedition, in which he traversed unexplored portions of German East Africa up to Lake Victoria and returned through British territory, met with this Antelope, as he kindly informs us, in Northern Ugogo, Iranga, Usandawe, and near Mount Gurui. He describes its habits as almost like those ofMadoqua kirkiandCephalophus harveyi, with which it is often found in company in the thinly-bushed districts. But it also occasionally goes out into the open prairies, and then lies concealed in the tall grasses like the Reedbucks. Its Swahili name is given as ‘Dondoro.’

In his appendix to Sir John Willoughby’s ‘East Africa and its Big Game,’Mr. Hunter includes the “Steinbok” amongst the Antelopes met with in the plains round Kilimanjaro, where, he says, it is very often seen in the long grass. Mr. F. J. Jackson also speaks of the “Steinbok” in his account of the Antelopes of the same district. He says that its Swahili name is “Ishah,” but that it is better known to some sportsmen as the Grass-Antelope, and continues as follows:—“It is more plentiful at Kilimanjaro than elsewhere, though I have seen a good many all along the caravan-route, wherever it passes through open grass country, between Mombasa and Nzoi in Ukambani. This little Antelope is the smallest of those found in the open plains. It is a stupid little beast, and requires very little stalking to outwit it. It will often stand gazing at anyone who approaches, and allow him to walk up to within 100 yards of it.”

If it should turn out thatR. neumanniis a good species, it is probable that that Steinbok or Ishah of British East Africa, referred to by these two distinguished sportsmen, will be found to belong to it.

In his ‘Field-notes on the Antelopes of Nyasaland,’ published in 1890, Mr. R. Crawshay includes the Steinbuck. But he had only procured one specimen, and admits that he was uncertain as to its identification.

As will be seen by this and by previous remarks that we have made, our knowledge of the Antelopes of East Africa is still far from complete, and there is a large opportunity for further discoveries on this subject by those who will kindly assist us with notes and specimens.

The British Museum contains two skulls, probably of this species, obtained between Mombasa and Kilimanjaro by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter.

December, 1895.

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