THE BLAAUWBOK 5 1 



by Dr. Sparrman near Krakeel River, about 1772. 



4. Pennant bought a blaauwbok skin at Amster- 

 dam previous to 1781. Each horn had twenty 

 rings, and he tells us in his History of Quadrupeds, 

 that the hair of this specimen was long, so that 

 it was probably shot in winter coat. According 

 to Pennant, the blaauwbok was mentioned at 

 p. 58 of the Journal Historique (published at 

 Amsterdam in 1778), under the name of Bouc- 

 Chamois. 



5. Le Vaillant's Hottentot attendant shot a 

 blaauwbok bull, in the Valley of Soete Melk, in 

 December, 1871. To judge from Le Vaillant's 

 brief account, this example was in splendid adult 

 condition. Like Harris long afterwards with the 

 roan antelope, the French naturalist took a drawing 

 of his prize on the spot ; the Hottentot then 

 skinned it, and the skin was carefully preserved by 

 Le Vaillant, who was well aware of its value. 

 This specimen is known to have been brought to 

 Europe, but cannot now be traced. 



6. Another male specimen was seen by Le 

 Vaillant during 1781-85, and may have been the 

 other example (or one of them, if there were 

 several) which he brought home with the specimen 

 of 1 78 1, above mentioned. 



7. Subsequently to 1782 a blaauwbok bull, 

 obtained in the Valley of Soete Melk, was presented 

 to the Governor of Capetown. 



