134 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



of the stomach killed by its own gluttony, like 

 Henry II. after his feast of lampreys ! 



In conclusion a few words may be devoted to two 

 other antelopes the gemsbok and the fringe-eared 

 oryx which have been confused with the beisa. 

 The gemsbok is a magnificent creature standing 

 four feet at the withers and bearing a splendid pair 

 of horns which, longer even than those of the beisa, 

 attain a measurement of from 40 to 47^2 inches. 

 The general colour of the gemsbok is a fine vinous 

 buff; it also carries a jet black headstall, a reversed 

 mane, and a tufted tail ; but the black triangle just 

 above the muzzle is much longer and more expanded 

 than in the beisa, fusing with the stripe which runs 

 through the eye. The rump bears a black patch, 

 and another adorns the outside of the thighs ; the 

 cannon bones in both fore and hind legs are 

 handsomely decorated with a longitudinal black 

 stripe. In addition to these superficial markings the 

 gemsbok has a tuft on the throat absent in the beisa. 



The fringe-eared oryx (Oryx callotis] stands about 

 46 inches at the withers. On the plains of the 

 Kilimanjaro district it replaces the beisa; it is rather 

 smaller than that animal, and the coat is of a richer 

 ruddier tawny, the facial markings are practically 

 the same, save that the stripe running through the 

 eye frequently reaches the edge of the lower jaw and 

 even passes under the throat; there is no black patch 

 on the front of the cannon bone. The fringe-eared 



