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Show 1904.] ON A NEW SUBSPECIES OF HARTEBEEST. 455 with the Manatee alone of all Mammalia *, had a continuously renewed molar series, fresh teeth growing up and pushing forwards from behind, pari passu with the fall of worn-out teeth in front. No evidence was available as to the number of successive teeth produced in the course of the animal's life, but a minimum of seven f molars, that is three more than the normal, was certain. Mr. Oldfield Thomas also exhibited the skin of a Hartebeest which had been shot by Mr. F. J. Jackson in Uganda, and which appeared to represent a new subspecies of Bubalis jacksoni, characterised by its very unusual markings. It was proposed to be called :- BUBALIS JACKSONI INSIGNIS j. Bubalis jacksoni insignis Thos., Abstr. P. Z. S. 1904, No. 6, p. 22, April 26. Allied to B. jacksoni, but with a black dorsal stripe and black-marked limbs. General colour tawny, darker than in true jacksoni, the hairs tawny throughout, not or scarcely ticked with lighter terminally. Rump, flanks, and under surface lighter tawny, not conspicuously contrasted with the dorsal colour. Centre line of back with a prominent sharply defined black line, about half an inch broad, commencing behind the occiput and running along the spine on to the rump, but ceasing about a foot short of the tail. Head much as in true jacksoni, but the tips of the ears edged with black behind, the nasal region darker, and two black marks present on the forehead between the eyes. Ground-colour of limbs of the same light tone as the rump, but their anterior face terminally with strong black markings, very much as in B. lichten-steini. On the fore limbs there was a black patch on the knee, the black beginning again lower down and extending to the hoofs ; the posterior face of the pasterns, between the accessory and main hoofs, also black. On the hind limbs the black markings ascended from the hoofs about three-fourths the way towards the level of the hock, the back of the pasterns being also black, as on the fore limbs. Tail with the usual black crest on its terminal half, but less developed than in other species. Fur of back uniformly directed backwards, without any trace of the whorl and reversed hairs on the withers found in B. jacksoni. Skull and horns as in B. jacksoni. Dimensions about as in B. jacksoni. Frontal length of skull * Of. Thos. & Lyd. P. Z. S. 1897, p. 695. t Notation as in Brit. Mus. Catalogue of Marsupials. X [The first complete account of the new species described in this communication appears here; but as the name and preliminary diagnosis were published in the ' Abstract,' it is distinguished here by being underlined.-EDITOE.] |