THE BLESBOK ANTELOPE 157 



Bechuanas stands about 4^ feet at the shoulder, 

 and measures about 6 feet in length. In general 

 outlines it resembles a modified hartebeest ; the 

 head, however, is but little elongated, the horns are 

 but slightly twisted, and the withers but slightly 

 humped. The tail bears a crest of backwardly 

 directed hair. The horns, annulated with almost 

 white rings, are slightly lyrate, and measure some 

 15 inches in length ; the record specimen (in Sir E. 

 Loder's collection) tapes 18^ inches over the curve. 

 In spite of its relationship to the bubal, the blesbok 

 is charmingly beautiful. The head and neck are 

 rich dark purplish brown, with a snow-white blaze 

 down the middle of the face ; the body tint is also 

 brown, exquisitely shot on the back with lilac ; the 

 ears are grey behind, as if lichened ; the chest and 

 croup are rufous ; the belly and inside of the limbs are 

 snow-white, and a pale brown disc is situated above 

 the tail. Elegantly coloured, gracefully proportioned, 

 the blesbok is one of the most charming denizens of 

 the veldt ; a four-footed Mercury, it is the living 

 embodiment of wild beauty and antelope grace. 

 The present species formerly occurred in Northern 

 Cape Colony, the Orange River Colony, and the 

 Transvaal, and still inhabits Bechuanaland. It is 

 now unfortunately a very scarce animal. 



In the old days immense herds of blesbok roamed 

 all over Central South Africa. Northwards it 

 reached to the Molopo River, southwards it 



