THE ADDAX 867 



four inches to four feet eight inches at the withers, but it is stated that four feet ten 

 inches has been measured. The cows are much smaller. The black horns average 

 eight or nine inches in length, with a basal girth of eight inches; but one pair has 

 been recorded with a length of eleven and three-fourths, and a girth of nine and 

 one-half inches. 



The nylghau is exclusively an Indian animal, being quite unknown 



in Ceylon. Even in India its distribution is restricted, as it does not 

 occur in Eastern Bengal, Assam nor, apparently, near the Malabar coast. Fossil 

 species occur in the river-gravels of Central India, and also in the Pliocene sand- 

 stones of the Siwalik hills at the foot of the Himalayas. 



Nylghau may be found either on the plains or in low hills, generally 



preferring ground covered with thin bush, among which are scattered 

 low trees, or alternations of scrub jungle with open grassy plains. They are but 

 seldom met with in thick forests, although far from unfrequent on cultivated grounds. 

 The bulls are generally solitary, but occasionally assemble in small parties, which, 

 according to Mr. Blanford, may include as many as a dozen head. The females and 

 calves are generally found in parties of from four to ten, but sometimes in herds of 

 from fifteen to twenty or more, and they are on some occasions accompanied by one 

 or more full-grown bulls. Nylghau both graze and browse, and will feed at any time 

 of the day although they resort sometimes to the shade for repose. Mr. Blanford be- 

 lieves that, in the cold season, at least, they drink but once in two or three days. 

 General Kinloch writes that " in places where they are not disturbed, especially in 

 some of the native states, nylghau are absurdly tame, but in districts where they 

 are much molested they become extremely shy and wary. It must not, therefore, 

 be supposed that they can always be easily shot, but they afford such a poor trophy 

 that they are not much sought after. When they can be found sufficiently far from 

 thick cover they may be speared, and they then show capital sport, as they will 

 probably lead a well-mounted horseman a chase of several miles. On hard ground 

 I doubt if a cow nylghau could be speared by a solitary hunter; the bull, being much 

 heavier, is more easily ridden down." They can be readily tamed, but the bulls are 

 apt to be savage. Either one or two" young are produced at a birth. 



THE ADDAX 

 Genus Addax 



With the addax {Addax nasomaculatus] we come to a group of African and 

 Arabian antelopes of large size, including the genera Addax, Oryx, and Hippotragus, 

 which present the following distinctive characteristics. They have long cylindrical 

 horns in both sexes, which are placed over or above the eyes, and are either sub- 

 spiral, straight, or recurved. The muzzle is covered with hair, and there is no 

 gland below the eye; while the skull has no depression below the socket of the eye, 

 and but a very narrow unossified space in the same region. The tail is long and 

 tufted, and the upper molar teeth resemble those of the oxen, having very tall and 



