66 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



males are often seen. Wounded individuals are 

 apt to turn on the hunter, if pressed too closely, 

 when from their great size and strength they are 

 most dangerous antagonists, striking right and left 

 with their formidable horns ; the blows are delivered 

 with a tremendous violence that makes utter havoc 

 of a pack of strong dogs, and will mortally wound 

 a horse. Like other antelopes, the roan is fond 

 of rubbing and grinding its horns against trees and 

 stumps ; it retains this habit even in captivity. 

 Roan calves are of a light chestnut colour : an 

 example shot by Mr. Selous will be found figured 

 on an adjoining page. 



In addition to the mystery long attaching to it 

 as the dreaded tackhaitsie of the Bechuanas, the 

 roan antelope is apparently one of the numerous 

 animals which have masqueraded as the unicorn. 

 The original of this fabulous creature has been 

 variously identified as the rhinoceros, the gemsbok, 

 and the beisa — the last-named being a long-horned 

 antelope, closely allied to the gemsbok, but in- 

 habiting north-east instead of southern Africa. 

 To this interesting trio there seems good reason 

 to add a fourth — the roan antelope, as will be seen 

 from the following account. 



Sir John Barrow, during his travels in South 

 Africa, at the close of the eighteenth century, 

 heard reports of the existence of a strange one- 

 horned animal, which was said to inhabit the 



