224 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



f'htto by Percy Aihendtn 



[C.i^» Town 



MALE SPRINGBUCK 



Once the most numerous species in South Africa, where it is still not uncommon. Its migrations, or tl trch t " at certain seasons were one 



of the sights of the veldt 



males and females are horned. With the single exception of the BEATRIX Oryx, which 

 inhabits Arabia, all these antelopes are denizens of Africa. One species of the group, the 

 BLUEBUCK, which appears to have been entirely confined to the mountainous districts of the 

 Cape Peninsula, became extinct during the first decade <>f the last century. Little is known 

 as to the life history of this animal, but it was undoubtedly nearly allied to the larger and 

 more handsomely marked ROAN ANTELOPE. This latter animal once had a more extensive 

 range than any other antelope, as it was found in almost every part of Africa south of 

 the Sahara, with the exception of the Congo forest region. It has now been exterminated 

 in tin- more southerly portions of the country, but from the Limpopo to the Upper Nile, 

 and thence to the Niger, it is still to be found wherever the surroundings are suitable to its 

 requirements. 



A large bull roan antelope will stand 4 feet 9 inches at the withers. The general colour 

 of the body differs in individuals, even in tin- same district, varying from a very light shade 

 of brown to dark grey or red roan. The front and sides of the face arc jet-black in the adult 

 male, and dark reddish brown in the female, with two long white tufts of hair under the 

 eyes. The muzzle and extremity of the lower jaw are white. The hair on the under side of 

 the neck is long and coarse, and a stiff mane about 3 inches in length runs from behind 

 the ears to the withers. The ears are very long, and in the females and young males 

 tufted. The horns are curved backwards, and in the male are very stout and strong, attaining 



