552 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1917. 



tinet species, sometimes two. The antlers are normally stout and of 

 three tines, but in some species are very small and with elongated 

 pedicles. A buck of the Philippine deer which has lived in the 

 park since 1904 was presented by the late Admiral Evans. When 

 this deer has posed long enough for the public and is satisfied to call 

 it a day he retires to his shelter and closes the door. 



The park possesses a fine herd of the barasingha, or swamp deer of 

 India (Rucervus duvaucelii). This striking species thrives in the 

 large paddocks provided for it. Its antlers are large, sweeping, and 

 many-tined. The little Japanese deer {Sika mppon) also is shown. 



THE ANTELOPES. 



Asia and Africa are the present-day homes of a great group of 

 bovine animals known as the antelopes. In Africa, especially, this 

 group offers the most astonishing diversity and the species range in 

 size from the tiny dik-dik to the giant eland. There are brilliantly 

 colored forest species and plain colored desert forms ; solitary species 

 and others which graze in great herds. Frequently these herds are 

 composed of animals representing a number of distinct genera. The 

 true antelopes, like the cattle, have hollow horns which grow and 

 are retained throughout life — as opposed to the solid, deciduous 

 antlers of the members of the deer family. 



Among the African antelopes in the park are the great, gentle- 

 faced East Africa eland {Taurotragus oryx living stonii) , presented 

 by the Duke of Bedford ; the Congo harnessed antelope (Tragelaphus 

 gratm), a beautifully marked species in which the males are a deep 

 chocolate brown in color while the females and young are of a rich 

 cinnamon rufous ; the sable antelope of South Africa (Ozanna niger) , 

 with his long bowed horns; the gazelle-like springbuck {Antidorcas 

 marsupialis) ; the Defassa water buck (Kobus defassa) ; and the 

 rather spectacular and very noisy wildebeest or gnu (Connochcetes 

 gnu). With the exception of the elands, which have large paddocks 

 to the north of the elephants, all of these African species are kept 

 in the antelope house, where they have heated quarters in winter 

 and pleasant yards for summer range. 



The Asiatic antelopes shown include the fine, large species known 

 as the nilgai (Boselaphm tragocamelus) and the small black buck 

 (Antilope cervicapra). Both of these species are restricted to 

 peninsular India. The females of each are without horns and differ 

 markedly in color from the males. The black bucks thrive in the 

 National Zoological Park in outdoor paddocks with unheated shelter, 

 and both species regularly breed. 



The American Antelope or pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) 

 belongs to a separate family. It was formerly abundant on the 

 western plains but is now found in only a few scattered localities. 



