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Show of tlie neck are covered with longish, coarse hair, brown and black mixed. Round the base of the neck the hair becomes entirely black, forming a conspicuous collar about 8 inches wide. This is sharply separated from the colour of the body by a narrow halfcollar of pure white, which extends from the chest tuft half way to the withers. The body is very pale fawn-colour, almost (as Bimbashi Collins terms it) " cafe-au-lait," becoming white on the belly. On the white of the under surface there is a long black patch, commencing in a point between the fore legs and extending backwards to the navel. A black spinal stripe of longer hair runs the whole way along the neck and body, and from this about ten white stripes run down the sides and haunches. The hair of the body is very short, smooth, and sleek. The limbs are pale fawn-coloured, like the body, white on the inner sides, with black patches at the back of the fetlocks and round the pasterns, and black patches 4 inches in length on the back of the fore limbs, just above the knees. The following additional notes and measurements are from Bimbashi Collins's letter to me :- " I killed one old solitary bull and one younger herd bull. In the herd which I saw I counted 50 horned heads and 10 calves running with them, and I am told there is another herd on the same ground. The horns of my lone bull I make out to be 39 inches, and those of the herd bull 38 inches, but I am not quite sure of my measurements. " Dimensions of solitary bull were :- Height from heel, leg in standing position, 5 ft. 8 in. (17 hands). Nose to base of tail (along curves ? A. L. B.) 9 ft. Length of body, shoulders to hindquarters, 6 ft. 2 in. Length of tail, 2 ft. 3 in. Girth 6 inches behind shoulder, 7 ft. H in. Girth round centre of neck, 4 ft. 2^ in." " In the herd which I stalked there was one bull which looked enormous, and must have had horns well over 40 inches, but I lost sight of him in the bush, and shot the younger bull in mistake for him. " The animals were very tame, and were not much disturbed by my firing one shot, but the herd was spread out over so much ground that it was next to impossible to stalk any particular animal. " According to natives, old bulls have a curious habit of rubbino-the mat of hair on the forehead in the puddle made by their own urine. The old bull had damp mud on the forehead which smelt distinctly of urine. The young bull's forehead was dry and clean." 290 ON THE GIANT ELAND OF THE BAHR EL GHAZAL. [Apr. 18, |
