354 



MAMMALIA— ANTELOPE. 



and on the head, back, and outside of the limbs, the hair is darker than on 

 any other part ; the orbits of the eyes are white, and there is a small patch, 

 of the same color on each side of the forehead; the tail is short. The horns, 

 which are about sixteen inches long, are black, distinctly annulated almost 

 to the top, and have three curves ; the brachia, or sides of the lyre, were fre- 

 quently made of these horns, as appears from ancient gems. The female 

 is destitute of horns, and may also be known by a white stripe on the flanks. 



The race of antelopes is famous for the concretion known by the name of 

 bezoar. This word is supposed to be derived from the Arabic language, 

 where it signifies antidote or counter-poison. It is found in the stomach and 

 intestines of many animals, and brought over principally from the East 

 Indies. Like all other animal concretions, it is found to have a kind of 

 nucleus, or hard substance within, upon which the external coatings are 

 formed ; for, upon being sawn through, it seems to have layer over layer, 

 as an onion. 



This nucleus is of various kinds ; sometimes the buds of a shrub, some- 

 times pieces of flint, stones of plums, tamarinds, seeds of cassia, and some- 

 times a marcasite. The stone itself varies from the size of an acorn to that 

 of a pigeon's egg; and the larger it is, the more valuable it is reckoned — its 

 price increasing like that of a diamond. There was a time when a stone 

 of this kind, weighing four ounces, sold in Europe for above two hundred 

 pounds; but at present the price is greatly fallen, and they are in very little 

 esteem. The bezoar is of various colors, sometimes of a blood color, some- 

 times of a pale yellow, and of all the shades between these two. It is 

 generally glossy, smooth, and has a fragrant smell, like that of amber- 

 gris. It has been given in vertigoes, epilepsies, palpitations of the heart, 

 colic, and jaundice; and in those places where the dearness, and not the 

 value of medicines, is consulted, in almost every disorder incident to man. 

 In all cases it is perhaps equally efficacious, acting only as an absorbent 



