| OCR Text |
Show 418 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE ANTELOPES [May 17, orbit to gnathion 166 ; nasals, length 122, breadth 45 ; muzzle 91; length of upper molar series 90. Hab. Liberia (F. X. Stampfii). This fine species, discovered in Liberia by Dr. F. X. Stampfii, from whom, through Dr. Biittikofer, the Museum obtained the specimen above described, was referred1 by Dr. F. A. Jentink, of the Leyden Museum, to Gray's C. longiceps. This reference, in my opinion, was most wise and prudent under the circumstances, not only on account of the extraordinarily close resemblance of its skull to that of C. longiceps, the only part of the latter form known, but also because there was at that time no evidence that C. sylvicultor, to which I refer C. longiceps, inhabited the Gaboon, whence came the latter animal. Now, however, that the reference of C. melano-prymnus to C. sylvicultor shows that the latter form does inhabit that district, the true owner of the typical skull of C. longiceps, practically identical as it is with that of C. sylvicultor, becomes at once evident. It is therefore clear that the Liberian species, so different from C. sylvicultor externally, but so like cranially, requires a new name, and I think no better name can be given it than that of m y friend Dr. Jentink himself, whose valuable papers on the Liberian mammals are characterized by a carefulness above all praise, and whose very carefulness, led astray by Dr. Gray's more serious mistakes, caused him to make the venial error in the determination above referred to. In fact, it could scarcely be called an error at all, for at that time it would have been quite unjustifiable for him to have described the Liberian form as new, in face of the extraordinary resemblance of its skull to that figured by Dr. Gray as C. longiceps. 3. CEPHALOLOPHUS SPADIX, True. Cephalophus spadix, True, P. U. S. Nat. Mus. xiii. p. 227 (1890). Size comparatively large. General colour " dusky chestnut-brown without spots or bands, and not lighter on the belly. Face, chin, and throat pale greyish brown. Hairs of crest bright chestnut at the base, and tipped with black. Tail dusky, except at the tip, where the hairs are nearly pure white throughout." Horns " directed backwards, and lying below the plane of the upper surface'of the skull " : - S. " 4 | inches (114 mm.) long; slender, straight, not thickened at the base in front." Dimensions.- S • "Head and body 965 mm., ear 107, hind foot (hoof to hock) 241." Skull-basal length, from occipital condyle, 216; greatest breadth 104 ; nasals, length 95 ; length of molar series 67. Hab. Mount Kilima-njaro, at high elevations [Abbott (U. S. Nat. Mus.)]. The above is extracted from the original description of the species, 1 N. L. M. vii. p. 272, pi. x. (animal) (1885); op. cit. x. p. 19, pi. (1887). |
