THE BEISA ANTELOPE 133 



possessed the only living pair in Europe. Other 

 specimens were received in 1877 and 1878. 



On April 12, 1881, the first calf ever bred in 

 captivity (a female) was born in the Gardens. A 

 coloured drawing of the calf was exhibited at a 

 meeting of the Zoological Society held on May 17, 

 1 88 1, and a figure of mother and young was published 

 in the Proceedings of the Society for that year. The 

 calf as figured looks remarkably like a foal, save for 

 the tiny spike horns and the somewhat faint facial 

 markings ; the mother stands behind it at a little 

 distance, capitally drawn, the very long horns 

 characteristic of female beisa showing up well 

 against the sky, and the sable stripes on face and 

 flank contrasting effectively with the general body 

 colour. In September, 1885, a second calf was born 

 of the same parents. The mother died, but the calf 

 learnt to suck milk from a bottle, and butted the 

 keeper if the suction tube fell out of its mouth ! 

 Unfortunately it did not survive. A photograph of 

 this second youngster will be found in Captain Nott's 

 "Wild Animals Photographed and Described." 

 The beisa has bred twice in the collection at 

 Calcutta. On May 25, 1878, a young animal of this 

 species was received at the Calcutta Zoological 

 Gardens ; it was turned out into an enclosure, and 

 being unfortunately tempted after its month's voyage 

 to make a hearty meal of fresh grass, gorged itself 

 to repletion. It was found dead of excessive dilatation 



