140 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



really fine animal, with long slightly curved horns 

 and a distinct neck mane ; a good specimen was also 

 living in the New York Zoological Park in 1903. 

 Lastly, in April, 1906, a pair of live beatrix were 

 offered for sale by Cross of Liverpool. 



In 1905 the writer spent some time in studying a 

 pair of young beatrix in the gardens of the Zoological 

 Society ; a photograph then taken is reproduced in 

 this book. These oryx were remarkable for a 

 number of transverse markings on the neck and 

 withers, perhaps corresponding to the underlying 

 vertebrae ; and also for the beautiful pinkish hue 

 which suffused their coats, recalling the exquisite 

 roseate tinge on the breast of Ross' gull. They 

 were fond of sparring with each other, butting their 

 heads together like calves at play ; the stronger of 

 the two was rather inclined to bully, driving off his 

 mate when the fit took him by prodding or 

 threatening to prod with his horns. Such squabbles 

 were soon made up, the two licking each other's 

 coats in the most amicable manner. The cry of the 

 beatrix is a hoarse braying grunt. 



Rare as it is in zoological gardens, the present 

 species seems to be still rarer as a museum exhibit ; 

 as late as 1899 no Continental museum (save perhaps 

 that of Paris) possessed any specimens at all. A 

 Paris example bears the record horns, which tape 27 

 inches ; other specimens are in the Natural History 

 Museum at South Kensington, and consist of : 



