THE NILGAI ANTELOPE 121 



in 1745 by Dr. James Parsons, F.R.S., in vol. 43 of 

 the Philosophical Transactions. A pair sent from 

 Bombay by Governor Cromelin as a gift to Lord 

 Clive arrived in August, 1767, and presently began 

 to breed. 



About this time the nilgai appears to have been 

 quite extensively known in England, considering the 

 length and uncertainty of the then voyage round the 

 Cape. Lord Clive had several in his possession ; it 

 is recorded that the two bulls which he had used to 

 drop on the knees when fighting. William Hunter's 

 nilgai also used to drop on their knees when he 

 entered the paddock a habit innocently interpreted 

 as a sign of submission, but much more likely a 

 menace ! One of Hunter's animals, however, 

 became tame enough to lick the hand ; it allowed 

 itself to be stroked, and would feed from the hand 

 like a horse. This beast disliked the odour of 

 turpentine or spirits, and refused food from those 

 who had handled either. Mr. Sullivan presented 

 two live nilgai to the then queen ; after its death one 

 of them was dissected by the Hunters, and the skin 

 and skeleton was preserved. William IV. kept 

 nilgai in the royal menagerie at Sandpit Gate, 

 Windsor Park ; the animals in this collection were 

 well looked after, and provided with ample paddocks 

 and shelter trees. 



In 1826 the Zoological Society was founded ; two 

 years later the famous historic collection in Regent's 



