Genus BUBALIS. (Vol. I. p. 5.)
Bubalis neumanni.
Bubalis neumanni, Rothschild, Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 6, xx. p. 376 (1897).
Mr. Rothschild has based this species upon two skulls with horns, of male and female, and parts of a skin obtained by Mr. A. H. Neumann on the east shore and to the north-east of Lake Rudolf. He describes it as follows:—
“The horns of this species differ widely from those of Bubalis major (Blyth), of West Africa, and B. buselaphus (Pall.), of Northern Africa and Arabia, in being slenderer and in their tips being inverted, instead of pointing outwards or straight behind. The nearest ally seems to be B. tora (Gray) of Upper Nubia, Abyssinia, and Kordofan, which, however, has more slender horns, with more distinct rings, reaching almost round, a broader forehead, and a generally paler coloration. The horns also diverge much more in B. tora, as shown at a glance by the distances between the tips of the horns, as recorded in R. Ward’s ‘Horn Measurements.’
“The horns of B. neumanni measure as follows:—
“Circumference at base, ♂ 273 millim., ♀ 183; total length along the curves, ♂ 420, ♀ 345; tip to tip, ♂ 206, ♀ 249.
“The rings of the horns are not very prominent and do not reach all round.
“Breadth of skull at forehead, ♂ 100 millim., ♀ 80; length of skull from base of horn to upper lip, along the side in a straight line: ♂ 430, ♀ 403 millim.
“Colour of hair fulvous fawn, much richer on the back, where there are also some darker spots, which may be stains or natural; below very much paler. Chin blackish, tip of tail black. The male is brighter and darker in colour than the female. There are also on the back some patches with longer, thicker, almost whitish-buff hair, perhaps remains of the winter fur.”