ANTILOPE.fi. 



ANTILOI'K.K. 



of the ear ; the ride* of the upper lip and the whole space under the 

 chin are likewise white. The neck u unmixed fawn, deep above and 

 lighter beneath, with a white mark on the breast : the body likewise 

 is deep fawn-colour, with a dorsal line of white and black hair inter- 

 mixed, and rather longer than thoae on the rust of the body. From 

 thudoral line originate 8 or 1 Onarrow transverse ribbons of pure white, 

 which pam ol>l icj m-Iy down over the ribs and hips, and are crossed on the 

 aides and flanks by one or sometimes two longitudinal bands of the 

 same colour, running from the shoulder to the hips on each side, in a 

 direction parallel to the donal line. All these markings are constant 

 in the species, and equally common to both sexes : they are at regular 

 distances from one another, and, as Buffon has observed, present the 

 appearance of a set of small harness. A few small round white spota 

 are frequently also scattered over the hips and thighs, as in the Bosch- 

 Boc, and the interior of the fore anus, thighs, and legs are likewise of 

 this colour, but the breast, belly, and under parts of the body in 

 general ore uniform fulvous brown. 



The Guib inhabits the west coast of Africa, from Sierra Leone to the 

 banks of the Senegal, from the latter of which localities it was first 

 brought to Europe by Adauson the naturalist It is said to associate 

 with its own species, and to form extensive herds, which reside equally 

 in the forests and on the open plains, particularly in the vicinity of 

 Podor and Goree, where thuse animals are very numerous. Guib is 



1 In-ir name in the Joliff language. The colours are sometimes subject 

 to alight variation as far as regards the number of longitudinal and 

 transverse bands on the sides. Colonel Smith has considered this 

 difference specific, and has bestowed the name of A. phalerata upon 

 the variety with a single longitudinal line on the flanks, retaining the 

 original name of A. tcripta for the variety which is marked with two 

 of these lines. This distinction, to say the least of it, is extremely 

 doubtful, and the difference upon which it is founded is in all proha- 

 bility merely accidental. 



81. T. Decula, the Decula, is of a gray-brown colour. The bock 

 has three or four indistinct cross-bands ; an arched streak on the upper 

 part of the side, a few spots forming an arch on the haunches ; dorsal 

 fine, streak on nose, and front of fore legs, blockish. It was originally 

 described by Riippell, and is a native of Abyssinia, 



81 T. tyltalica (AntUope sylralica, Span-maim), the Boach-Boc, 

 measures about 4 feet from the nose to the root of the toil, and is 



2 feet 6 inches high at the shoulder. The horns are nearly 1 foot in 

 length, thick at the base and gradually attenuated, but ending in 

 rather blunt points ; they ore twisted on their own axis, but do not 

 form the wide-spreading spiral curves so remarkable in those of the 

 Koodoo : from the base, however, two sharp prominent wreaths, one 

 on the outer and the other on the inner surface, wind spirally round 

 them for the first two-thirds of their length, and are gradually 

 obliterated towards the points, which are smooth and polished. The 

 ears are large and rounded at the tops; the limbs robust but clean 

 and well-formed ; the tail of moderate length, and similar to that 

 of the common Fallow-Beer. The mole and female are of different 

 colours ; the ground-colour of the male is a dark sepia-brown above, 

 ami white beneath, the head and cheeks' being light and sandy-red, 

 and the extremities fulvous ; that of the female reddish-fa wn above 

 and white beneath. Two pure white bands cross the throat, one at 

 the junction of the head and neck, and the other at the union of the 

 neck with the chest ; the lips and chin are also white ; round white 

 spots mark the cheeks, and sometimes the nose in front of the eyes ; 

 similar spots ore dispersed irregularly over the hips and thighs, 

 to the amount of a dozen or more on each side, sometimes even 

 forming Interrupted lines. The hair is of moderate length, but it is 

 smooth and lies close to the body ; the bocks of the ears are covered 

 with short brown hair ; the tail is black above and white underneath, 

 and the pastern joints are marked behind with two oblong spots of 

 the same colour. In very old males the legs become almost uniformly 

 gray, and at all ages there is a white line running down their inner 

 surface even to the very hoof. All these marks ore equally found in 

 the females, but not being so prominently contrasted, on account of 

 the lighter ground-colour of this sex, they ore not su conspicuous as 

 in the males. There is frequently also a narrow white list along the 

 back, but this is not a constant character in cither sex, and is, for 1 1,,- 

 m<*t part, wanting in the females. The young males are of the same 

 colour as the adults, but rather lighter, and the white spots oil the 

 hips and thighs more faintly marked. 



The Bosch-Boc, or Hush-Goat, a* it* colonial name implies, resides in 

 the woods, which it never quits but during the bright moonlight 

 night*, or early in the morning, when it comes ont to graze on the 

 border of the forest, or to make incursions into the neigh 1 

 garden* and corn-fields. Its voice resembles the barking of a dog, 

 and its deceitful tone sometimes leads the benighted traveller into the 

 most remote and lonely depths of the forest, in the vain search after 

 some human habitation, which hu is all tin- time leaving behind him. 

 It u a slow runner, and easily caught when surprised in an open 

 xituntioti, but it ktx-ps clone to the woods, through whirl] it penetrates 

 with great ease, running with the horn* rouelicd backwards along the 

 aides of the neck, to prevent th> m from in j jit-ding its eourse by striking 

 gainst the branches, and havin/ ami throat fro.|<iently 



dennd-d by nibbing n gainst th" underwood, as it force* it-< 

 through the thick covers. The nj.. ions, the male and 



female being always found either alone, or accompanied by one or two 

 kids, but never by adult individuals. It is common enough in 

 Kafiraria, and in such parts of the Cape Colony as have sufficient 

 forest to afford it a secure asylum ; its llesh makes good venison, that 

 of the breast being particularly esteemed. 



83. Portax Trayocamcl m (Antilope picta, Pallas), the Kil-dhau or 

 Nyl-Ghau, one of the largest and most magnificent Antelopes known, 

 being upwards of 4 feet high at the shoulder, inhabits various parU of 

 India, whence it has often been brought to England, where it lives 

 and breeds, and is not an uncommon animal. The face of this species 

 is long and narrow ; the muzzle large and naked ; the horns about 7 

 inches long, small, round, and black, rather distant at the base, nearly 

 parallel throughout their whole length, pointed and slightly curve. I 

 forwards; they are perfectly smooth and without annuli, but. rather 

 triangular at the base, and gradually rounded and attenuated towards 

 the points. The lachrymal sinuses are large ; the ears 7 inches in 

 length, broad and rounded like those of mi ox ; the neck deep and 

 compressed like that of the horse, not round and cylindrical as in the 



The Sil-Ghau (Portax lYagocamrlm). 



Stag and most other Antelopes ; and the tail broad, equally 00 

 with hair on the sides and at the root, but terminated by a long block 

 tuft, and descending to the houghs. The legs are small and well- 

 formed, the anterior rather longer than the posterior ; and the spinous 

 processes of the dorsal vertebras so much elevated between the 

 shoulders as to give the animal the appearance of having a small 

 hump. When at rest, the feet are gathered close under the body, and 

 the tail turned in between the hind legs. The hair is uniformly short. 

 and close upon every part of the head, body, and limbs. excepting 

 along the top of the neck and on the shoulders, where it is Ion 

 and upright, forming a thin erect inane which extends tVom between 

 the ears half-way down the back, and on the middle of the throat, 

 where there is a species of beard composed of stiff bristly hair. The 

 general colour is a uniform slaty-blue on the upper par!.- in the male, 

 and tawny-rid in the female ; on the under parts uniform white in both 

 sexes. The liuilw and faee are almost brown, and the lips, chin, and 

 under surface of the tail, white. There is a largo white spot on the 

 throat, and two smaller ones on the cheeks under the larhrymal 

 sinuses ; the postern joints are marked in front with one spot. 

 rear with two conspicuous spots of the Home colour, whieh . 

 strongly with the dark brown of the surrounding part*, and ha\e 

 citic name of Aatilr./,, /./</ which was given by 

 1'allas to tli 



The Nyl-Ghau resides in the dense forest* of India, whence it occa- 

 sionally makes e.v ry early in the morning or- during the 

 night, to feed upon the corn fields of the natives whieh happen to be 

 situated in the vicinity of the jungle. It is a vieious anini:d. ! very 

 uncertain temper, ana as it is both poweit'ul and 

 quently turns upon its pursuers, it i .-< -1.1. -in made an object < if chose 



except, by the native princes, who employ elephant,-" for this pi 



or inclose the game in not*. The ut--u:d method which the shikarrees, 



nrpri'l nters, employ for iu capture is to shoot it from on 



elevated platform when it comes out at night or early in the morning 

 to feed on the confines of the jungle : this being likcwi-c their mode 

 of destroying tigers, wild boors, and other bca.-t - which tl 

 attack openly. Kven in conlinemeiit. and when <! i from 



birth, the violent and ,! mperofthe N\ I ( diau cannot lie 



trusted. Previous to making an attack, it drops up-<n tie 

 knees, advancing in this position till within a proper di 



i. nlv forwards with tb. >t an arrow, and with a 



idinary animal con withstand. Yet, not v. 



