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Show 454 SIR VICTOR BROOKE ON AFRICAN BUFFALOES. [June 1, 10. Supplementary Notes on African Buffaloes. By Sir VICTOR BROOKE, Bart. F.Z.S. [Received June 1, 1875.] (Plate LIV.) Since the publication of my paper on African Buffaloes in the Society's Proceedings for 1873 a large mass of material has passed under m y observation, enabling m e in some degree to confirm, and in some degree to modify the opinions expressed in that communication. In m y former paper I grouped m y observations under two heads :-first, as to the identity of the Bos pumilus of Turton with the Bubalus brachyceros of Gray ; second, upon the possible identity of the smaller species of Buffalo of Eastern Africa mentioned by Heuglin and others with Bubalus pumilus. For the convenience of comparison and reference, I will adhere to the same order in the remarks which follow. First, as to the identity of the Bos pumilus oi Turton with the Bubalus brachyceros oi Gray. M y conviction of the specific identity of the types upon which these names were conferred rested in 1873 chiefly upon-the two following facts :-first, that the skulls of the F E M A L E Buffaloes brought by Dr. Baikie from his Niger expedition resemble in every important particular the specimens brought from Central Africa by Captain Clapperton, which latter are the types of Bubalus brachyceros; and, second, that a small Buffalo's skull and horns in m y own collection (P. Z. S. 1873, p. 475. figs. 1 & 2) present characters exactly intermediate between the type of Bubalus pumilus and the skulls and horns of the M A L E Buffaloes brought by Dr. Baikie from the Niger, and Pel from the Gold Coast. It therefore appeared to m e natural to conclude that the specimen named Bos pumilus by Turton represented the male of the same species as that on which Dr. Gray 30 years subsequently conferred the name Bubalus brachyceros, upon an examination of female specimens. The localities from which both the type of Bubalus pumilus and m y own specimen were obtained being unknown, however, constituted a serious gap in m y chain of facts. This gap I a m now, through the kindness of M r . Walker, enabled in large measure to fill-he having lately sent m e from the Gaboon the skull and horns of a Buffalo, which so exactly resemble m y specimen as to leave no doubt that both are referable to the same species, namely the small Buffalo of Western Equatorial Africa. In addition to this I have lately seen in the Zoological Gardens at Antwerp a very fine living female of the West-African Buffalo, which was sent about a year ago, direct from Sierra Leone. A comparison of M r . Wolf's beautiful coloured sketch of this specimen (Plate LIV.), and of the detailed description of it which I shall give presently, with M . D u Chaillu's description of the " Niare" of Equatorial Africa (Expl. Eq. Afr. p. 175), proves beyond doubt the specific identity of the Buffaloes of Sierra Leone and of that country. |
