May 1897. East African Collection of Mammals — Elliot. 131 



tough to stop any spear or arrow. As the bulls are very pug- 

 nacious, no doubt their tough, thick hides are a great protection 

 against the lance-like horns, and save them from being run 

 through this vital portion of the body. 



I have frequentl}^ seen bulls fighting and thrusting with their 

 horns, ending in the weaker being chased for a long distance by 

 the victor, amid a cloud of dust. Oryx are not especially wary, 

 but their sight is very keen, and they depend more upon their 

 eyes to detect danger than either upon nose or ears. It is not, 

 however, a difficult matter to get within fair shooting distance of 

 a herd, provided due caution is used and the ground is suitable 

 for stalking. The natives frequently hunt this animal on their 

 ~ ponies and endeavor to spear it, and ever}' year a number of 

 men and horses lose their lives, transfixed b)' the sharp horns 

 of the angry game. Oryx run with considerable speed, and are 

 able to keep it up for a long time, but the natives surround a 

 herd and are therefore able to meet the animals, no matter which 

 way they ma}' run. Calves are curious looking little creatures, some- 

 thing like those of the domestic cattle, having a hump upon the 

 shoulders. They soon become quite tame, and one we had for a 

 short time would readily suckle a goat, although the latter was 

 not half its size. The horns at first are mere knobs with the 

 points turned to one side, and these ends do not become straight 

 until a'length of several inches is attained. Calves utter a sound 

 between a bleat and a bellow, and this expresses either fear or 

 hunger. They run even more swiftly than the adult, and it is 

 wonderful to see the little creatures keeping up with a herd in 

 full flight, frequently taking the lead and keeping it. Oryx are 

 often seen with Hartebeest, Aoul, etc., peacefully grazing on the 

 plain together. They were plentiful a few years ago in the 

 country between the Golis Range and the coast, but have practi- 

 cally deserted that district at the present day, and in all our jour- 

 neys throughout Guban we only saw three individuals. It can 

 only now be found in any numbers after the Hand is reached, 

 about 100 miles south of Berbera, and is really onh' plentiful in 

 the southern portion of the Hand and the country beyond. 



This species of Oryx is the second largest of those known, being 

 exceeded in size by the Gemsbok, Oryx gaze/hi, from South 

 Africa. This last, a very fine animal, is almost extinct, a rem- 

 nant being protected on a few farms, but its days are numbered 

 and it will soon disappear. 



