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Show 1893.] FROM BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 725 crashing through the branches, having (I think) lost his hold and fallen. I shot him as he bounded off. He was a male, three-quarters grown. The trunk of the tree was rather sloping and not difficult to climb. " The extensive marshes through which the Luapula runs immediately before entering the south end of Mweru are the refuge of many Elephants, and this is one of the few spots in the southern portion of Equatorial Africa where they are still plentiful. The cattle-plague has not touched them. " Rhinoceroses (of the Black species) are scarce throughout the Mweru and Luapula Countries. I saw none on m y last journey, and only once came across their spoor. Buffalo and Burchell's Zebra are to be seen in vast herds in the country east of Mweru Lake, on the borders of the Great Mweru Swamp. I have seen them in herds of many hundreds. Throughout Itawa, Zebras are constantly met with. " Buffaloes are numerous on the banks of the Luapula ; Roan Antelopes throughout the country from Tanganyika west and south. Reedbucks and Bushbucks are found everywhere. Elands, Sable Antelopes, and Hartebeests are also seen throughout the countries that I have mentioned, but are not so plentiful." I now proceed to give a list of the species represented in Mr. Sharpe's collection, so far as I can distinguish them. To make the list of the Mammals of this district as complete as possible I have added the names of some species represented in a series of skins and horns from Lake Mweru transmitted home by Mr. R. Crawshay (who wTas lately Resident at the Station called Rhodesia, at the N.E. corner of Lake Mweru) along with Mr. Johnston's collections. 1. CERCOPITHECUS OPISTHOSTICTUS, sp. nov. Two flat skins, which appear to have been used as dresses. So far as I can tell, they belong to a Cercopithecus allied to G. samango (see above, p. 251), but distinguished by the blackish under surface, the black upper back, and the two small rufous patches on each side of the tail. The species may be diagnosed as follows : - Supra pallide cinereo et nigro confertim annellatus, capite ; cervice postica, humeris cum manibus et pedibus extus cauda (nisi ad basin) nigris ; plaga parva ad latus dorsi postici utrinque castanea: subtus nigrescens. Long. corp. 24 poll., caudce 25 poll. Hab. Africa Centr. Britann. ad Lacum Mweru. 2. FELIS SERYAL, Erxl.; Elliot, Mon. Fel. pi. xxvi. One flat skin, apparently of this Cat, or of a nearly allied species. 3. F E L I S CAFFRA, Desm.; Elliot, Mon. pi. xxxi. One flat skin of a Cat of this group, which is widely spread over Africa. |
