VNTILOPEA 



ANTILOI 



erroneously considers Damalit fvnryalrnni (AtUilupr adauta and 

 A.forfer, H. Smith), as synonyms of this species. (Gray, 'British 

 Museum Catalogue,' Mammalia, Part III., p. 101. 



Kim conical, elongate, recurred, rather compressed, ringed norms 

 anting immediately abore the orbiU ; toe nape with a linear, erect, 

 reversed mane ; the tear-bag covered with a tuft of hair. The female 

 U horned, and has tvo teats. 



53. .K. Ifncoplunu (Anlilopt Irucoptura, PallanX the Etaac or Blauw- 

 Boc u <i feet in length, and 3 feet 7 inches high at the shoulder ; the 



The Iilau-!!oc (.K. Irucoplurtu). 



head is 9 inches long from the muzzle to the base of the horns ; those are 

 2 feet 2 inches, measured along the curves ; the length of the ears is 

 8 inches ; and that of the tail, with its terminating tuft, 1 foot The 

 horns are round, uniformly curved backwards, and marked with from 

 20 to 80 prominent and complete ring*, the last six inches being smooth, 

 and the points very fine and sharp. The hide of this animal is perfectly 

 black, and it in this colour reflected through the ashy-gray hair that 

 communicates the dark -blue shade which has given rise to the name 

 of Blauw-Boc, or Blue-Buck, by which it has long been known among 

 the Dutch at the Cape of Good' Hope. 



The Blauw-Boc lives in pairs or small families of five or six individuals 

 on the open plains of South Africa, north of the Kurrichane. It is 

 dangerous when wounded, and during the rutting season in particular 

 is said to attack indiscriminately every animal that comes in its way. 

 It is exceedingly swift. The flesh is eaten, but is not pleasant. 



AiHilope bartala, H. Smith, the Takhaitze, beautifully ^gured by Mr. 

 Daniell in the 'African Scenery,' is a variety of this species, and 

 differs from the Blauw-Boc by its long flowing mane, copious beard, 

 and superior size. This animal inhabits the country in the vicinity 

 of Latakoo, and is called Takhaitze by the Betchuanas. It is said 

 to be so wild and ferocious that the natives are afraid to attack it 

 openly with the assagai, or spear, as they do other game, but take it 

 generally in pitfalls covered over with sticks and earth. It is 

 commonly found in pairs upon the open plain*, but when dis- 

 turbed makes for the wooded heights, which are thickly covered 

 with the common mimosa, upon which both this animal and the 

 Giraffe delight to feed. The name Takhaitze signifies a fierce or 

 wicked beast, and expresses the dread with which the resolution and 

 prowess of this powerful animal inspire the Betcbuanas, who seldom 

 venture to approach it openly. 



A. tr/uina of Geoffroy is also a variety of this species. 



Another probable variety is the Docoi, or White-Mouth of the 

 Mandingos, the Koh or Koba of the Joliffn, the Vache Brune of 

 the French in Senegal Mr. \Vhitfirld, who has brought several pairs 

 of horns of this animal to England, says that the flesh is very good 

 to eat 



54. *K. niger, the Black-Buck, is black, with the face white, having a 

 dark streak. The female and young are brown. This species is 

 known from the description and specimens of Captain Harris, and also 

 specimens in M. Numlevall's collection. 



Oryx 



Has elongate subulate boms, ringed at the base, straight or 

 slightly arched, placed on a line with the face ; the neck mailed 

 above and below ; a subcervine nose, the nose only margining the 

 nostrils; the hoofs narrow in fn.ni. ami false hoofs large. 



55. 0. OtaeUa (Anlilope Oryr, Pallas), the Kookaam or Oems-Boc. 

 Thin the Oryx of Cuvier, the Papan of Buflbn, and the Egyptian 

 Antelope of Pennant It is a heavy stout animal, about 6 feet in 

 length, and 3 feet 2 inches high at the shoulder ; the length of the 



horns is from 2 feet to 2), that of the ears 7 inches, and that of the 

 tail 18 or 14 inches. The horns are almost perfectly straight, very little 

 divergent, and situated in the plane of the forehead; they are 



Gcnu-Boe (Oryx Gaalla). 



obscurely annnlated for half their length, black, and blunt in the male, 

 but very sharp-pointed in the female. The ears are large aiul pointed, 

 and the tail pretty uniformly covered with long black hair, funning ;i 

 large switch. The general colour of the body is dark rusty-iron gray on 

 the upper parts, and white on the under, the two being separated on the 

 flanks by a broad longitudinal band of dark brown or black ; ainl t he 

 hair of the back and neck reversed. The head is white, and is marked 

 with two transverse bauds of deep black, rising from the root of tin- Imnis 

 and passing down the face, then encircling the eye, and uniting un<l< r 

 the lower jaw with those of the opposite Bide. From this point a Mack 

 band passes down the throat upon the chest, where it divides into 

 four, one pair of which pass along the flanks and divide the colour* 

 of the upper and under parts of the body, the other pair encircles 

 the fore arms ; the thighs are likewise black, whilst all the rest of 

 the limbs is white, except a black mark on the canons. On the upper 

 surface, the black line passes down the neck and back, and expands 

 into a broad disk on the rump. These colours are all boldly separated 

 from one another, and the harshness of their contrast produces a very 

 singular effect upon the appearance of this animal. 



The Oryx inhabits the karroos of South Africa. It is never found 

 in the woods, but keeps on the open plains, and lives in pairs or 

 small families of four or five individuals. It is extremely dangerous 

 to approach when wounded, if not completely disabled, making 

 vigorous use of its long powerful horns, and it is said being not 

 unfrequontly the first to commence the assault We are even assured 

 that the lion himself is afraid to attack this powerful and courageous 

 animal, and that sometimes when, pressed by famine, he has ventured 

 to do so, he has been beaten ofi" with disgrace, or even paid for his 

 temerity with his life. Captain dimming says that it eate the Imlli nf 

 the Water-Root, a Liliaceous plant 



56. 0. Beita (Antilope Jieita, Ruppell), the Beiaa. Two specimens 

 of this species exist in the Frankfort Museum, obtained in Abyssinia. 

 They differ from the last species in having no bunch on the throat ; 

 the mane of the nape is small and indistinct, and they have no dark 

 mark on the rump. 



57. 0. Leutoryx (Antilope Leucoryr, Pallas), the Oryx. This species, 

 also referred to in various writers under the names of the Milk- 

 white Antelope, the White Antelope, and the Algaz.-l, i* kii"- 



the Arabs by the name of Abu-hard, Jachmur, and Ya/mur, mid to 

 the Persians as Kl-Walrugh-el-Bukras. It is perhaps the most 

 celebrated of all the Antelope genus, being the speeies which U 

 generally supposed to have given rise to the fabulous Unicorn of the 

 undents. It is indeed, properly speaking, the Oryx of ancient writ. 'i-*, 

 but many modern authors have followed the example of Pallas 

 in bestowing that name upon the Oryx (jaztllu <!' Southern Africa, 

 with which it is impossible that the ancients could have been 

 acquainted, whilst the present species has received the name of 

 Leucoryjr, from an epithet bestowed upon it by .Klian on account of 

 its white colour. The horns are at first directed in the plane of tin- 

 forehead, and have a single gradual and moderate curv.it un t IIP mghout 

 tin -ir whole course, forming, as it were, the segments of a very largo 

 circle; they are small in proportion to their great length, aim 

 about half way up, gradually attenuated, and very sharp at the 

 points. The ears are long, erect, and pointed ; and the tail is terminated 

 by a very copiously furnished tuft of long hair of a mixed black and 

 a;ray colour, which reaches below the hocks. The hair on the head, 

 body, and extremities, is universally short, and lies smoothly along 

 the hide, except upon the ridge of the back, where it is rather longer, 

 and reversed, or turned towards the head in a direction contrary to 

 that on the other parts of the body, and forming a short reversed 

 mane from the middle of the back to the occiput The head is 



