307 APPENDIX C.

ZOOLOGY OF THE SUDAN.

ZOOLOGY.

In preparing the following notes on the Zoology of the country, it has been assumed that the Mammals and Birds will present the most general interest. The variety and distribution of the large " game " animals has been briefly sketched, and, to make space for this, reference to the Invertebrate animals lias been omitted.

Apes and schweinfurthi) Mammals.

Monkeys are well represented in the Sudan. The Chimpanzee {Anthropopithecus troglodytes Primates. occurs in the Bahr el Ghazal region, where also is found the beautiful black and white fur-bearing ColoUis guereza ; Baboons {Pcqno hamadryas and F. annhis), Grivet (Cercopithecus sabmcs) and Patas Monkeys (C.patas) abound and are widely distributed. Lemurs (Galago) occur, but are seldom met with.

The Lion is found wherever the country is suited to its habits, and is in places plentiful. In 1880, one was Cumivora. seen half-way between Berber and Suakin, but at the present time it ranges little further north in the Sudan than Kassala. The Leopard, commoner than the Lion, but warier and less often seen, is even more widely distributed ; the Cheetah or Hunting Leopard {Cyncehirm jubatiis) less so. Among smaller felines are the Serval, Caracal and Libyan Cat (Felis serval, F. caracal and F. lihyca).

Hyajnas, spotted and striped {H. crocnta and H. striata) are common ; much rarer and more local is the Hyjenalike, l)ut smaller, Aard Wolf (Protelcs cristatus). I Jackals, Foxes and Fennecs are abundant; the Wild Dog {Lycaon jiictm) is scarcer.

Smaller carnivora are Civets, Genets, the Mongoose, the Ratel, and the pretty little black-and-white Zorillas, whicli in coloration remind one of the American Skunks.

The Inseclimra are represented by Hedgehogs and Shrews (Eiinaceus and Croeidura). Imectivora. Bats (Chiroptera) are plentiful.

Iiodents {Rodentia) are represented by the common Porcupine, Hares, Gi'ound-Squirrels (Xeriis), Eats, and the Rodenti'a. Jerboas and Gerbilles — curious little nocturnal creatures living in holes in the desert sands. They have long hind legs and tails, pro|>ress by leaps like miniature kangaroos, are of a protective sandy coloration, and subsist entirely without water.

Much the most interesting to the general traveller and sportsman are the Vngulata or hoofed animals, and in Ungulata.

this " big game " the Sudan is particularly rich. The Elephant is found on the Setit (from which during the Kharif or rainy season it ranges as far north as the Gash), the Upper Atbara, the Rahad, the Binder, and the Blue Nile; it ranges across the Gezira in smaller numbers and becomes more plentiful again along the Upper Sobat, Pibor, the Bahr-el-Jebel, in the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province, along and v\est of the Bahr-el-Arab as far north as Kalaka. The ivory from tliese southern swampy districts is much larger than that from the Blue Nile and Abyssinian frontier — tusks running up to 130 lbs. or so in weight — but it is not of quite as good quality. No organized effort to capture and train adult African elephants has been made in modern times, and attempts to rear the young on cow's or goat's milk or farinaceous substitutes have generally failed. The Black lUiinoceros {R. hicornis) was found as far north as the Gash in 1880 ; a very few still remain on the Setit, the Kahad, Dinder and Blue Nile ; on the Bahr-el-Jebel, in the Bahi'-el-Ghazal Province, and on the Bahr-el-Arah it is less scarce, while there is some reason to believe that in this last-named tract of country the White Rhinoceros {R. Simus) is not yet e.xtinct. The destruction of Rhinoceroses in the Sudan is absolutely prohibited.

A curious little animal somewhat doubtfully placed by naturalists near the Rhinoceroses is the Hyrax, a small animal, in .shape somewhat resembling a guinea-pig, which inhabits rocky hills in many parts of the Sudan.

The Wild Ass is found in some of the Eastern deserts ; while Zebras (probably Grant's Zebra) just e.\tend into Sudan territory north of Gondokoro on both banks of the Bahr El Jebel. 2 s