4 Introductory 



North American representatives of the family Bovidce is, indeed, commonly 

 known as the Rocky Mountain goat, and might therefore seem entitled 

 to a place among the animals described in this volume. Zoologically, 

 however, it is not a goat in the proper sense of the term. It appears 

 more nearly allied to the so-called goat-antelopes, of which the European 

 chamois and the Oriental serows are familiar examples, and cannot there- 

 tore be included in the sub-family Caprince. 



The various members of the extensive but somewhat ill-dehned group 

 of Bovida commonly known as antelopes are fully described and figured 

 in the Book of Antelopes by Messrs. Sclater and Thomas. The present 

 volume treats of the oxen, sheep, and goats ; and the Ccrvuia have already 

 been described in the I}ccr of All La/uis. To complete the Pecora, 

 there accordingly remain the aforesaid goat-like antelopes among the 

 Boviihe^ as well as the Prong-buck {Aiitilociipriihc), and the giraffes and 

 their extinct allies [Glrajfiiler). The groups remaining are therefore some- 

 what mixed, but it is to be hoped that sonie one will undertake the task 

 of their description. And it is above all most important that the extinct 

 forms should be included, as without them no adequate idea can be 

 gained of the affinities and extent of the family last-named. 



In the groups mentioned in the title, the present volume includes 

 descriptions of all the named living species and races with which the 

 writer is acquainted. But, as in the case of the deer, only such of the 

 extinct forms as are represented by remains sufficiently well preserved 

 to give a fair idea of their affinities are introduced into the text. 



In addition to the attractiveness of the wild members of the groups 

 under consideration on account of the magnificent horns which many of 

 them carry, oxen, sheep, and goats must always claim special attention on 

 account of their including the most important of the animals domesticated 

 by man for the purpose of affording food. The domesticated species 

 comprise (i) the common ox, (2) the humped ox, (3) the yak, (4) the 



