THE ROAN ANTELOPE 'J T^ 



example at Berlin about 1879, and a third (also at 

 Berlin) in 1 899 : while the young roan from 

 Upper Nubia received by the Zoological Society 

 of London in 1878 probably also belonged to 

 Baker's subspecies. I remember noticing in 1901 

 the name of Hippotragiis bakeri in a list of 

 animals offered for sale by Herr Menges, the well 

 known wild beast merchant, but do not know 

 what became of the specimen thus advertised. 

 A good bull of this subspecies, shot at Gondokoro 

 on the Upper Nile, is now in the National Collec- 

 tion. 



In captivity the roan antelope does fairly well, 

 though like all the larger antelopes it is a danger- 

 ous pet. Those kept at Antwerp were evidently 

 conscious of their strength, continually grinding 

 their massive horns against the strong railings of 

 their pen, and exhibiting a restless and half-savage 

 demeanour. The roan will become half-tame, 

 feeding from the hand and even allowing an 

 attendant to enter the paddock provided he keep 

 a respectful distance : it would, however, go hard 

 indeed with any person rash enough to approach 

 too closely to these, perhaps the most dangerous 

 of all the African Bovidae. Those who have been 

 accustomed to consider antelopes as gentle, pretty 

 creatures ready to flee timidly on the slightest 

 alarm would speedily be undeceived on attempting 

 to play with either roan, sable or hartebeest, even 



