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Show 482 SIR VICTOR BROOKE O N I.May 16, 1. On Speke's Antelope and the allied Species of the Genus Tragelaphus. By Sir V I C T O R B R O O K E , llart., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S. [Received May 3, 1871.] (Plate XXXIX.) Some confusion apparently existing between three of the larger known species of the genus Tragelaphus, it has occurred to m e as not entirely useless to review their history, and to endeavour to lessen the confusion, by giving characters of distinction between the species which may prevent similar mistakes in future. In the 'Proceedings' of this Society for 1864 (p. 103, plate xii.) Dr. Sclater described and figured provisionally an Antelope, of which the horns attached to part of the frontal bones of an adult, and the skin and horns of a young male, had been brought from Karaguc by Captain Speke, on his return from the Victoria Nyanza. In the ' Proceedings' of the same year (p. 649) Dr. Kirk expressed his opinion that the "Nakong" of the marshy regions of Lake N'gami and the Chobe was identical with the " Nzoe" of Karaguc, the T. spekii of Sclater. Dr. Sclater, being very desirous to throw as much light as possible on the history of this little-known and most interesting Antelope, subsequently collected some M S . notes on the subject, which he intended to form into a supplementary paper, more fully describing the species and its allied forms. These notes, however, he has lately, in the most generous manner, placed in m y hands for consideration, knowing my special interest in this branch of zoology. Amongst these papers are two letters, one from Dr. Livingstone, the other from Mr. Oswell. Both of these gentlemen express themselves satisfied as to the identity of the " Nakong," procured by them during their visit to Lake N'gami in 1852, with the "Nzoe" obtained by Capt. Speke in equatorial Africa. In a letter which I have just received from Mr. Oswell, relative to the habits of the " Nakong" of Southern Africa, he remarks, " The colour of male and female is alike, a rusty blackish-brown ; hair long and shaggy. This Antelope is scarce, in small families, though I am told more abundant on the swamps of the Teoghe river, N . W . of N'gami, and is not, I think, found short of the point where the Zouga river issues from the lake. It lives entirely in the swamps and reeds; and its feet are wonderfully adapted to its habitat; their extreme length and area of tread, including the fetlock up to the suc-centorial hoofs, make them perfect 'swamp-shoes,' though they incapacitate the animal from running on hard ground. When pressed, the Nakong takes to the water, and sinks itself altogether save the nostrils; in this position it is often speared by the natives." Mr. Oswell adds, " m y description must only be taken for what it is worth, as I think I only saw a Nakong once, and the |