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Show 456 SIR VICTOR BROOKE ON AFRICAN BUFFALOES. [June 1, Hair harsh, on the body and limbs of moderate length, longer on the withers and upper and underparts of the neck. General colour bright yellow. On the shoulders and anterior parts of the body there is a strong tinge of brown, caused by an intermixture of brown and yellow hairs. On the flanks and belly the yellow shades gradually into deep rufous. Upper parts and sides of the head and neck pure yellow, lower surface of head and neck paler. Entire upper and lower lip, fore limbs from above the carpi, and hind limbs from below the tarsi downwards black. Ears about 10" in length and 6" in breadth, narrowed gradually towards their tips, which, from their flexibility and length, curl back upon the ear-conches. Internally the upper rim of the ear-conch is covered with pure yellow hair of about 5" length, hair of similar length and colour forming two marked lines along their inner surface. Hair on the lower rim of the ear-conch and on the tip black. Tail bare, excepting the terminal tuft, which is black. Height at the shoulder about 42". Horns slightly compressed at their bases, and directed upwards. The head is remarkably long in proportion to the body, which is compact and powerful, the limbs short. Male, adult. Generally darker than the female (Du Chaillu). Horns greatly compressed from above downwards and broad at their bases, which are traversed in unworn specimens by numerous sharply marked irregular ridges. Beyond these ridges the horns are suddenly contracted into round smooth points, which are directed upwards and sometimes boldly backwards. The basal portion of the horn in most A D U L T specimens rises slightly but decidedly from the horizontal upon leaving the skull; in other specimens, however, as for example in the type, the entire horn is directed upwards. Length of horns round the curve about 21", their diameter at the base 7". Female, adult. In the female the horns are much less compressed at the base than in the male. As in the male, the direction of the points of the horns is very variable. Length of horns round the curve 17", their diameter at the base 4\". Bange. Western, Western Equatorial, and the northern parts of Central Africa. Typical specimens of Bubalus pumilus may be distinguished from typical specimens of Bubalus aquinoctialis :- 1. By their much smaller size. 2. By the general colour being yellow instead of brown. In Bubalus pumilus the black of the nose and limbs contrasts strongly with the yellow ground-colour of the rest of the animal. In Bubalus aquinoctialis the entire animal is, as stated below, uniform dark brown. 3. By the horns rising much more from the horizontal than is the case in Bubalus aquinoctialis. 4. By the long hair hanging from the ear-couches being pale yellow instead of dark brown, as is the case in Hubalus aquinoctialis. The principal figure of Plate LIV. represents the female in the Antwerp Gardens, above referred to. The side figure represents the head of a young male, the skull of which is in m y collection. |
