The New International Encyclopædia/Bushbuck

BUSHBUCK (Dutch boschbok, bush-goat). A sportsman's name for several African antelopes frequenting bushy regions, especially two groups: (1) The genus Tragelaphus, otherwise known as &lsquo;harnessed&rsquo; antelopes because of the often conspicuous vertical whitish stripes that characterize all except the most familiar bushbuck of South Africa, Tragelaphus sylvaticus (See colored Plate of ), which is also one of the smallest. These are among the handsomest of all antelopes in form and richness of color (which differs in the sexes), and they have been nearly exterminated by sportsmen south of the lake region. Another, the guib (Tragelaphus scriptus), is not larger than a goat, but the bongo of the equatorial west coast is 3 feet 7 inches tall; the nakong (Tragelaphus Spekei) is large and plain in color, and has a mane. (Compare . ) A very complete account of these antelopes was given by R. Crawshaw in the Proceedings of the Zoölogical Society of London, 1890. He says they are remarkably quick of hearing, and have an exceedingly loud and far-resounding bark. Leopards are their natural enemy, but in some regions they enjoy immunity from harm by men. &ldquo;They are almost sure to be found in the native burial-places, which are grown up to thickets and avoided as ghost-haunted. . . . This fact has caused bushbucks to be regarded by many Nyassa natives as uncanny, and some natives will not eat their meat and do not like even to touch the skin.&rdquo; (2) The genus Cephalolophus. See.