254 COMMON BKITISH ANIMALS 



The cliainois, which inhabits the mountains of 

 Europe, is a goat-like antelope, while the gazelles 

 are true antelopes. 



Antelopes are the oldest of the three groups 

 dating from the Miocene. They are now limited in 

 range to Africa, where they are most abundant, 

 Europe and Asia. The new coat of arms for the 

 State of South Africa has for its supporters two 

 antelopes, the characteristic animals of the country. 

 When looking at any collection of antelopes one 

 cannot fail to pause to consider the form of the 

 Gnus, which are natives of South Africa. They 

 have the quarters, neat legs, tail and mane of a 

 well-shaped pony, but their hoofs are divided. The 

 shoulders are ungainly, the horns are oxen-like, and 

 their heads are peculiar to themselves. Their form 

 is such as to suggest that they might be made of 

 service to man, but they are quite untamenl)le in 

 disposition. 



Dr. Chalmers Mitchell also tells us that the fallow 

 deer which formed part of the daily provision for 

 King Solomon^s table (I Kings, iv, 23) were renlly 

 hartebeests, the original word having been erro- 

 neously translated. 



Camels and Llamas. 



When studying the even-toed ruminants it is 

 impossible to omit a word or two about camels, which 

 animals, strange to say, are not known to exist in a 

 really wild state. The so-called wild camels, of 

 which there is a small herd in Spain, are derived 

 from individuals which have escaped domestication. 



