THE BLAAUWBOK 



53 



Museum previous to 1840, and was believed by 

 Harris (and probably by others also), to be the only 

 specimen in existence. Sir Andrew Smith, when 

 investigating the status of H. leucopkaeus, received 

 from M. Geoffrey a drawing of the Paris blaauwbok, 

 and boldly declared that the treasured relic was 

 only a young roan, differing from the ordinary 

 form in lacking the chocolate red on face and 

 breast. It does not appear that Sir Andrew saw 

 the actual specimen ; however, Dr. J. E. Gray, 

 after examining the Paris animal, agreed with 

 Smith, in spite of the eloquent arguments of 

 Sundevall, who had also seen it. This was all the 

 more remarkable, as Dr. Gray made himself quite 

 a name for manufacturing new species. The fact 

 that such expert authorities were unable to agree, 

 naturally enhances the interest attaching to the 

 specimen. 



The Paris blaauwbok is a puzzle, and it is easy 

 to understand how a naturalist like Smith, who 

 had only seen a figure of it, might refuse to 

 separate it from the roan antelope : at first sight 

 it certainly does resemble a small, faded individual 

 of that species. Besides, during its long post 

 mortem career this historic specimen has been so 

 banged about that it is impossible to determine 

 whether its ears did or did not once possess pencils 

 of hair : a most important point. A careful 

 examination, however, soon demonstrates that it 



