Onotragus lechee, Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 17 (1872); id. Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 88 (1873).
Cobus leechi, Buckley, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 291.
Cobus lechee, Selous, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 760; id. Hunter’s Wand. S. Afr. p. 220 (1881); Ward, Horn Meas. (1) p. 90 (1892), (2) p. 125 (1896); Sclater, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 728 (L. Mweru, Sharpe).
Kobus lechee, Nicolls et Egl. Sportsm. in S. Afr. p. 42, pl. vii. fig. 22 (1892).
Vernacular Names:—Leche or Leegwee of the Makalolos. Inya of the Masubias; Oonya of the Makubias (Selous).
Size nearly equal to that of the large Waterbucks of the first section of the genus (height at withers 40–41 inches), although the general form is more graceful. Colour fulvous, slightly paler than in C. thomasi, which this species resembles in having well-defined black markings running down the legs, but which are succeeded below by white rings above the hoofs. Backs of both fore and hind pasterns quite naked, a character which distinguishes this species from all its allies. Pale areas round eyes and ears not sharply defined; back of ears not black-tipped. Muzzle, lips, chin, and belly white as usual. Tail slender, with a black tuft, just reaching to the level of the hocks.
Horns long, slender, and gracefully curved, attaining a length of 26 or 27 inches.
Female similar to the male, but without horns.
Hab. Zambesia, extending northwards to Lake Mweru, and south-westwards to Lake Ngami.
Like the Poku the Lechee was first discovered by Livingstone and his companions Oswell and Murray, who travelled with him in 1849 on his first journey to Lake Ngami. After leaving the lake, on descending the valley of the River Zouga, he tells us (‘Missionary Travels,’ p. 71):—“We discovered an entirely new species of Antelope, called ‘lechè’ or ‘lechwi.’ It is a beautiful water-antelope of a light brownish-yellow colour. Its horns—exactly like those of the Aigoceros ellipsiprymnus, the water-buck, or ‘tumōga’ of the Bechuanas—rise from the head with a slight bend backwards, then curve forwards at the points. The chest, belly, and orbits are nearly white, the front of the legs and ankles deep brown. From the horns, along the nape to the withers, the male has a small mane of the same yellowish colour with the rest of the skin, and the tail has a tuft of black hair. It is never found a mile from water; islets in marshes and rivers are its favourite haunts, and it is quite unknown except in the central humid basin of Africa. Having a good deal of curiosity, it presents a noble appearance as it stands gazing with head erect at the approaching stranger. When it resolves to decamp, it lowers its head, and lays its horns down to the level with the withers; it then begins with a waddling trot, which ends in its galloping and springing over bushes like the pallahs. It invariably runs to the water and crosses it by a succession of bounds, each of which appears to be from the bottom. We thought the flesh good at first, but soon got tired of it.”