130 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. i. 



Oryx beisa (Rupp). 



Oryx beisa. The Oryx. Native name Beit, 



a.-c. $ juv. South of Toyo Plain. 



d. 9 ad. South of Toyo Plain. 



e. $ ad. HuUier. 

 /. 9 ad. HuUier. 

 g. $ ad. Bodeleh. 

 h. $ ad. Silo Plain. 

 /'. 9 ad. Silo Plain. 

 j. $ ad. Haud. 



k. 9 juv. Haud. 

 /. 9 ad. Hersi Barri, Ogaden. 

 Oiyx are not often seen in the country north of the Golis 

 Range, but their numbers increase as the Haud is traversed, and 

 on the south of Toyo, and in Ogaden they are plentiful. It is a 

 stoutly built animal, about the size of a large donkey, and goes 

 in herds, sometimes as man}' as fifty or more being seen together. 

 Generally, however, a dozen individuals or less are met with. It 

 is not unusual to find old bulls wandering about by themselves. 

 At a distance it is impossible to distinguish the bulls from the 

 cows, as both carry horns, those of the cows more slender and 

 usually longer than the average of bull's horns. But this differ- 

 ence in size is not perceptible unless one is very close to the 

 animals. The horns are annulated for two-thirds their length, 

 then become smooth, and end in a sharp point. The average 

 length of bulls' horns are not much over 30 inches, although 

 occasionally specimens are obtained that are several inches 

 longer, and the cows' horns sometimes j-each a length of 37 

 or 38 inches. They are ver}- formidable weapons and it is dan- 

 gerous to approach a wounded or3'x. In charging its enemy 

 the oryx puts its head low down between its fore legs, with 

 the horns pointed forward not much above the ground, and 

 rushes at the object of its hate with much swiftness. These 

 lance-like horns are quite capable of passing entirely through the 

 body of an animal. Oryx seem to be quite independent of water, 

 and are often seen many miles from any place where it could be 

 procured. They frequent the waterless, treeless plains, such as 

 Toyo, Silo, etc., in herds sometimes of large size, and subsist 

 upon the harsh dr}' grass common to such localities. The skin 

 of a bull is very thick on the neck and withers, in some cases 

 as much as three-quarters of an inch through. The natives select 

 this part of the hide to make their shields, which are sufficiently 



