BEISA 



!5 



upper-parts, and the presence of a wash of reddish or brownish on 

 the white of the limbs. The hoofs also are stated to be longer than 

 in the typical race ; while it is suggested that there may be slight 

 differences in the horns. 



More distinct is the Kilimanjaro race {O. b. callotis)^ from British 

 East Africa south of the Tana river and the adjacent parts of German 

 East Africa. In this race the ears (which, as in all the members of 

 the group, as befits desert-dwelling antelopes, are narrow and pointed) 

 are surmounted by conspicuous tufts of long black hairs ; while this 

 race is likewise distinguished by the rich fawn-colour of the light face- 

 markings, and by the extension of the dark eye-stripe to the lower 



Fir,. 59. — A Ikiil "I Uci^a, photographed by Lord Delamere in East Africa. 



jaw, along which it may run to join the throat-stripe. There is also 

 no black on the front of the fore-legs below the knees. 



Beisa, which were at one time exceedingly numerous in Somaliland 

 and other parts of East Africa, have the same general habits as 

 gemsbuck. That they can exist for long periods, if not entirely, 

 without water is demonstrated by the occurrence of herds on the 

 Haud plateau of Somaliland, at least seventy miles away from the 

 nearest spring or stream. They are mainly grass-feeders, and appear 

 to rely chiefly on their keen sight for safety from enemies. 



The following account of beisa in Somaliland is abbreviated from 

 one furnished by Mr. A. H. Straker : — 



" Oryx are generally found in herds of from half-a-dozen to fifty, 

 chiefly composed of cows and calves. In stalking a herd it is almost 

 impossible to distinguish the bulls from the cows, as they are exactly 



