Part 31

Horns of Bubalis cokei, side view.]

Mr. Ernest Gedge, who traversed British East Africa in company with Mr. F. J. Jackson, has kindly compiled from his note-books the following account of his experiences with Coke’s Hartebeest:--

“These Antelopes range over a very wide extent of country in both British and German East Africa. In the latter sphere I have procured specimens on the south shore of the Victoria Nyanza which in all respects were identical with those found nearer the coast; hence it is reasonable to suppose that they occupy the entire region lying between the lake and the coast. In British East Africa the northern limit of their extension seems to be somewhere about Lake Naivasha in the Masai country. On one occasion, however, I obtained an odd specimen in the valley of the Ngare Rongri, to the south of Lake Baringo, but, as a rule, they are not to be found so far north, as in this district they give place to B. jacksoni.

Horns of Bubalis cokei, front view.

(Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, xiv. p. 426.)]

“Between Lake Naivasha and the coast B. cokei is very commonly met with. It frequents every kind of locality, and is equally at home in the bush-covered wilderness lying behind the coast-line and on the vast treeless plains around the base of Kilimanjaro which extend northwards towards Lake Naivasha, and during the hottest seasons of the year it is often encountered in the most arid and pastureless localities many miles distant from the nearest water.

“Being of a sociable disposition, Coke’s Hartebeest is usually seen in company with other game, and the sight of these vast mixed herds, which include Zebras and Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles, is one not easily forgotten. Like all Hartebeest it is very wary and difficult to approach, its senses of sight and scent being extremely keen. During the time that the herd is grazing there are usually one or two sentinels posted on the nearest elevations to give warning of the approach of danger. The white-ant-hills with which the entire country abounds are usually selected for this purpose, and are patronized to such an extent, that I have seen as many as eight or ten occupying the summit of one of these hills, which looked as if it could only support a third of that number. The reddish colour and general contour of these mounds bears in many cases so close a resemblance to the Antelopes themselves (particularly when grazing) that I have frequently been deceived by their appearance.

“When alarmed they utter a few short whistling snorts and take to flight. If surprised suddenly in the bush they usually run a considerable distance before halting, but when the danger has been perceived from a distance in the open they run but a short distance at a time, pausing frequently to turn round and scrutinize the object of their alarm. In this case there are generally one or two bulls keeping at some distance in the rear of the herd, whose fatal curiosity will often delay them until they fall victims to the rifle.

“The speed of this Antelope is very great, and when thoroughly alarmed they will cover the roughest ground in the most airy and graceful fashion, striking the earth with all four feet together, and springing up with immense bounds like an india-rubber ball. Their tenacity of life is also remarkable, and I have known them travel a long distance with several bullets in different parts of their bodies. The hunter who would be successful must in consequence possess a good rifle and hold it very straight.

“They vary in colour from a light tawny red to chestnut. Age has probably something to do with this, though the males are usually darker than the females, and they are inferior both in size and strength to B. jacksoni further north.

“The cows calve during the latter part of November and December, and on several occasions I have come across their young lying concealed in the long grass, whilst the anxious mother was watching the proceedings from a short distance.”

Our coloured illustration of this species (Plate III.) has been prepared by Mr. Smit from a mounted specimen in the British Museum, which was brought from the Kilimanjaro district by Mr. F. J. Jackson. There is in the same collection a head from the mountains of Taita, obtained by Mr. J. Wray.

May, 1894.

THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES. PL. IV.

Wolf del. Smit lith. Hanhart imp.

The Cape Hartebeest.

BUBALIS CAAMA.

Published by R. H. Porter.]

6. THE CAPE HARTEBEEST.

Bubalis Caama (G. CUV.).

Hartebeest, =Sparrm. K.= Vet.-Ak. Hand-l. 1779, p. 151, pl. v.; =id.= Voy. to Cape (Engl. transl.) ii. pp. 96, 199, pl. i. (1786).

Le Caama ou Bubale, =Buff.= Hist. Nat. Suppl. vi. p. 135, pl. xv. (1782).

Antilope bubalis, =Schr.= Säug. pl. cclxxvii. (animal) (1787) (and in part of other early authors, not of Pallas).

Antilope caama, =G. Cuv.= Dict. Sci. Nat. ii. p. 242 (1816); =Desm.= N. Dict. d’H. N. (2) ii. p. 196 (1816); =Goldf.= in Schr. Säug. v. p. 1174 (1820); =Schinz=, Cuv. Thierr. i. p. 390 (1821); =Burchell=, Trav. i. p. 420 (1822); =Desm.= Mamm. ii. p. 467 (1822); =Desmoul.= Dict. Class. i. p. 444 (1822); =Less.= Man. Mamm. p. 382 (1827); =Fisch.= Syn. Mamm. p. 474 (1829); =Waterh.= Cat. Mamm. Mus. Z. S. (2) p. 41 (1838); =Less.= N. Tabl. R. A., Mamm. p. 180 (1842); =Wagn.= Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 469 (1844), v. p. 444 (1855); =Schinz=, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 443 (1845); =Gieb.= Säug. p. 297 (1859); =Drummond=, Large Game S. Afr. p. 425 (1875).

Antilope dorcas, =Thunb.= Mém. Ac. Pétersb. iii. p. 316 (1811).

Cerophorus (Alcelaphus) caama, =Blainv.= Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816, p. 75.

Damalis caama, =Ham. Sm.= Griff. Cuv. An. K. iv. p. 348; =id.= v. p. 362 (1827); =Smuts=, En. Mamm. Cap. p. 88 (1832).

Acronotus caama, =A. Sm.= S. Afr. Q. J. ii. p. 221 (1834); =Harris=, Wild Sport S. Afr. p. 377 (1839); =id.= op. cit. 5th ed. pl. x. (animal) (1852); =id.= Wild An. S. Afr. (fol.) pl. vii. (animal) (1840); =Gray=, List Mamm. B. M. p. 157 (1843); =id.= List Ost. B. M. p. 58 (1847).