233 



ANTILOPE.E. 



ANTILOPEJ3. 



234 



dense bone, often with a clear sinus at the base within. Teats two 

 or four. Feet-pits in hind-feet and generally also in the fore ones. 



Perhaps the most general character belonging to the Antelopes 

 consists in the form of the horns being round and annulated, or at 

 least never exhibiting the prominent angles and ridges which distinguish 

 those of the Sheep and Goats. In their particular forms and curvatures, 

 however, they vary in almost every different species, as among domestic 

 sheep they do even in different varieties of the same species. Some- 

 times they form a single bend forwards or backwards, sometimes they 

 are what is commonly called lyrated, or bent first backwards and 

 then point forwards, in such a manner as, when opposed to one 

 another, to assume the figure of an ancien* lyre, the brachia or sides 

 of which instrument were frequently made of the horns of the Dorcas 

 or Common Gazelle, as appears from the engravings of antique gems 

 still preserved. In many of the smaller species the bony core, or 

 process of the os frontis which is inserted into the hollow sheath of 

 the horn itself, is almost solid, or at least the osseous substance of it 

 is penetrated only by very minute pores. 



The possession of ' lachrymal sinuses,' or as they are vernacularly 

 called with reference to the stag and fallow-deer, ' tear-pits," is another 

 circumstance which distinguishes the greater number of the Antelopes, 

 but which, like all their other characters, is far from being general. 

 Many zoologists suppose these organs to communicate with the 

 nostrils, so as to enable the animals to breathe freely during their long 

 and rapid flights when pursued or frightened. Some even suppose 

 them to be subservient to the sense of smell, and to serve for 

 detecting the noxious qualities of the numerous poisonous plants 

 which grow in the deserts, or spring up among the rank vegetation 

 of tropical climates. It is certainly true that all these animals possess 

 a most delicate sense of smell, and that no known quadrupeds can 

 surpass, and very few equal them in the course. It has been supposed 

 that these organs are used when the animal drinks. The anatomy of 

 the parts demonstrates that no internal communication exists between 

 the lachrymal sinus and the nose, or indeed any other organ. The 

 sinus itself ia simply composed of a sac or fold of the skin, of 

 greater or less extent according to the species, but always capable 

 of being opened or shut at the will of the animal, and furnished at 

 the bottom with a gland which secretes an oily viscous substance of 

 tin- colour and consistence of ear-wax, but which hardens and turns 

 ^-- black upon exposure to the air. The precise function of these organs 

 , is uncertain ; all that we know with certainty at present is, that many 

 of the Antelopes which are most commonly brought to Europe and 

 preserved in menageries, such as the common Indian Antelope and 

 the Gazelle, make continual use of this organ when any strange sub- 

 stance is presented to their notice, particularly if it be odoriferous, 

 and appear to derive great pleasure from protruding the lachrymal 

 ahum and rubbing its interior surface against the odorous body. 



It has been already hinted that the Antelopes are not the only 

 ruminants which possess suborbital sinuses : in fact, these organs are 

 more universally found in the deer kind than in the present family ; 

 but, on the other hand, as these are the only animals belonging to the 

 hollow-horned family which exhibit this character, it thus becomes 

 sufficiently appropriate, and, as far as it goes, serves readily to dis- 

 tinguish the Antelopes from the Goats and Sheep, with which they are 

 most liable to be confounded. In this respect, as well as in the 

 absence of horns in the females of many species, they form an inter- 

 mediate link between the rest of the hollow-horned ruminants and 

 the cervine or solid-horned family : so nearly indeed do some species 

 of Antelopes approach to the deer kind in general, and so perfectly 

 similar are they in all their most prominent and essential characters, the 

 horns alone excepted, that it is often next to impossible to distinguish 

 the hornless females of the one genus from those of the other. 



Besides the suborbital sinus, a few species of Antelopes possess a 

 (Utt'crent gland, which runs lengthwise between it and the mouth, in 

 a direction for the most part parallel to the plane of the chaffron or 

 face and nose, and secretes a dark oily substance ; it is, however, 

 entirely external, and has no internal opening like the lachrymal 

 sinus, nor are its uses better known than those of that organ. The 

 former fact, if it can be relied upon, proves at least that it is a sepa- 

 rate organ, and not a mere modification of the lachrymal sinus ; and, 

 consequently, it may be fairly presumed that its function, whatever 

 it may be, is likewise different. Another character, but much more 

 generally found to distinguish the Antelopes than even the suborbital 

 sinus itself, is derived from the inguinal pores, which are sacs or deep 

 folds of the skin, situated in the groin, opening inwards, and secreting 

 a glutinous substance similar to that of the glands already mentioned. 

 In the form of the upper lip, an important character among animals 

 which seek their food on the ground, and in which the lips and 

 tongue constitute the only organs of touch and prehension, the 

 Antelopes are as variable and inconstant as in the other characters 

 already described. In some species it forms a broad naked muzzle, 

 in in the ox; in others it is hairy and attenuated, like that of the 

 goat; and finally, it sometimes assumes an intermediate form, and 

 presents a modification of both these characters. The females are 

 furnished with either two or four teats, forming a small udder; 

 they usually bring forth but one at a birth, in a few instances two, 

 and the period of gestation differs from five to eight months according 

 to the ipeuiu.4. 



The hair of the Antelopes is generally short and smooth, and of an 

 equal length over every part of the body ; some however have manes 

 along the neck and on the shoulders, composed of long bristly hair, 

 either growing upright or reversed towards the head as in the Oryx ; 

 and a very few species, like the Gnu, are furnished with a beard on 

 the chin and throat. The ears are commonly long, narrow, and 

 pointed, smooth on the outside, and filled internally with long white 

 hair growing in five longitudinal lines, with four naked black spaces 

 between, and forming the appearance which, in describing these 

 animals, is usually denominated striated. The tails are generally 

 short, round, and tufted at the extremity, and many species are 

 furnished with little tufts of long black hair, called gcopat, or knee- 

 brushes, upon the upper part of the anterior canons, immediately 

 below the carpal joint. 



Generally speaking, the Antelopes are gregarious, and unite in large 

 herds, either permanently or at particular seasons of the year, but 

 only for the purpose of migrating in search of more abundant and 

 grateful pasturage ; some species, however, reside in pairs or small 

 families, consisting of an old male and one or more females, with the 

 young of the two foregoing seasons. They are always extremely 

 cautious in guarding against surprise, placing sentinels in various 

 directions about their feeding ground, to warn them of the approach 

 of danger whilst grazing or reposing ; and their vision and sense of 

 smell are so acute, that it is only by using the greatest caution and 

 circumspection that the hunter can bring them within range of the 

 gun. The names by which the animals themselves are distinguished 

 in all languages, ancient as well as modern, have a direct reference to 

 this quickness of sight, and to the brilliancy of the large black eyes 

 which form so conspicuous a feature in the Antelopes. Thus the 

 word Dorcas (Soptciis), the Greek and Roman name of the Gazelle, or 

 common Barbary Antelope, is derived from the verb 8^po/iai, ' to see.' 

 The common English word Antelope, which zoologists have adopted 

 as the generic name of the group, is a corrupt form of the term 

 &v9o\o\]i, employed by Eustathius to designate an animal of this genus, 

 and literally signifying ' bright eyes ; ' and, according to the learned 

 Bochart, Tabitha, the name of the disciple raised to life at Joppa, is 

 derived from Tzebi, the Hebrew name of the common Gazelle, and 

 alludes likewise to the beauty of her eyes. Among the Greeks and 

 Romans also, as we learn from Agathias, and others, Dorcas, Dorcalis, 

 and Damalis, all names of different Antelopes, were common names 

 of women likewise, bestowed without doubt on account of the remark- 

 able beauty of their eyes ; and Prosper Alpimis, and more recent 

 travellers, inform us that Aine el Czazcl, ' You have the eyes of an 

 antelope,' is the greatest compliment which at the present day an 

 oriental admirer can pay to his mistress. 



The Bushmen of the Cape often destroy vast numbers of the antelopes 

 with which their country abounds, by poisoning the springs and reser- 

 voirs to which they are known to resort, nor is the flesh ever known 

 to be injured by this mode of slaughter ; they also shoot them with 

 poisoned arrows, but in this case the parts immediately around the 

 wound must be cut out before the rest of the body imbibes the poison, 

 which would otherwise penetrate it, and render it unfit for food. 



Africa may be considered as the head-quarters of the Antelopes. 

 Australia and Madagascar are, as far as we at present know, com- 

 pletely destitute of Antelopes, as indeed they appear to be of all 

 indigenous ruminants. The precise nature of the habitat frequented 

 by these animals has nothing of a uniform character, but, as might 

 naturally be expected from the different modifications of organic 

 structure observable throughout the genus, differs according to the 

 particular species. Some frequent the dry sandy deserts, and feed 

 \ipon the stunted acacias and bulbous plants which spring up even in 

 the most arid situations, where the stony nature of the ground gives a 

 certain degree of adherence to the soil ; some prefer the open stony 

 plains, the steppes of Central Asia and karroos of Southern Africa, 

 where the grass, though parched, is still sufficient for their sub- 

 sistence; some again inhabit the steep rocky mountains, and leap 

 from cliff to cliff with the ease and security of a wild goat, whilst 

 others are found only in the thick and almost impenetrable forests of 

 tropical countries. 



Although what are popularly called Antelopes were at one time all 

 referred to the genus Antilope, their number has so greatly increased 

 as to render it necessary to distribute the various species under different 

 genera. As by far the most extensive and available collection of these 

 animals for the British student is contained in the British Museum, wo 

 shall follow in this article the arrangement given of these animals by 

 Dr. J. E. Gray in the ' Catalogue of the Specimens of Mammalia' in that 

 collection, published in 1852. 



The family Antilopeae is divided into two great divisions, the Ante- 

 lopet of the Fields, and the Antelopes of t/te Desert. These divisions 

 are recognised by a peculiarity of the nostrils, easily perceived. In 

 the Antelopes of the Fields the nostrils are bald or free from hairs, 

 whilst in the Antelopes of the Desert these organs arc bcardrd within 

 or covered with bristles. There are other distinctions, but these are 

 the most obvious, and readily recognised. 



ANTELOPES OK THE FIELDS. 

 These are again divided into three groups : 

 1. The True Antelopes, which have a light elegant body; slender 



