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NATURAL HISTORY. 



BOSELAPIIUS. (Gr. Ox-stay.) 



Orcas (Gr. 'Opeidc, belonging to the mountains), the Eland. 



The best and fullest accounts of tho ELAND and the ORYX 

 are to be found in Harris and Cumming's Adventures in South 

 Africa. An extract from Gumming will be both interesting 

 and accurate. Of the Eland, he writes : 



" This magnificent animal is by far the largest of all the 

 antelope tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains 

 an extraordinary condition, being often burthened with a very 

 large amount of fat. Its flesh is most excellent, and is justly 

 esteemed above all others. It has a peculiar sweetness, and 

 is tender and fit for use the moment the animal is killed.' 

 Like the gemsbok, the Eland is independent of water. It is 

 generally diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the 

 interior where I have hunted. Like other varieties of deer 

 and antelope, the old males may often be found consorting 

 together apart from the females, and a troop of these, when 



