692 



EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Russell in a letter that these oryx existed in the Egyptian Desert 

 seventy or eighty years ago. 



At the present time small numbers are found chiefly in the Sudan 

 (Dongola, Darfur, Kordofan) and the Chad region. A recent expedi- 

 tion found some numbers in Kordofan, not far to the west of Khar- 

 toum. Though the animals were seen more often in twos and threes, 



FIG. 63. White Oryx (Aegoryx algazel). From specimen in Philadelphia Zoo. 



larger herds up to 40 or more were occasional. They seem to be 

 somewhat nomadic, moving to the southern parts of their range at 

 certain seasons. After the rains, when grass is plentiful, it is said 

 that they are easily run down and speared by a man on a fast camel 

 (Brocklehurst, 1931). At such times they may come as far south in 

 the Sudan as latitude 14 or even farther, having been seen on the 

 road between El Fasher and Um Kedada. "The great oryx herds 

 are, or were, on the Wadi Howar in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan" 

 (Thesiger, 1939, p. 445) . Very little information is at hand as to their 

 numbers, since they inhabit regions seldom hunted by Europeans. 

 Probably it is impracticable to stop hunting by the desert tribes, 

 which perhaps is the greatest peril to these animals at present. 



G. M. A. 



