Fig. 1 b.
Horns of Bubalis major.
(Gambia, Carter, 1891.)
Whether the “variety 1” of the Bubal, established by Gray in 1850 upon a skin without horns or hoofs, said to have been brought by Fraser from Tunis, really belonged to this species, must ever remain doubtful. This skin is no longer to be found, and if it were really referable to B. major it was probably brought by Fraser from West Africa and not from Tunis, where the typical B. buselaphus is found. Gray’s inaccuracy as regards localities is notorious, and Fraser visited both parts of Africa. Under these circumstances we may altogether neglect the name “tunisianus” bestowed on this "variety" in 1852, as being highly doubtful as well as inapplicable.
Fig. 1 c.
Fig. 1 d.
Horns and skull of Bubalis major.
c. Front view; d. Side view. (Brooke.)
It is probable that the horns from the Cameroons, referred by Herr Matschie to “B. lelwel, Heuglin,” and those from Togoland, referred by the same author to B. major, also belong to this species, which would appear to inhabit suitable districts in Western Africa from Senegal to the Cameroons.