THE HARTEBEESTS AND GNUS 119 



warm brown, curiously glossed or glazed upon the 

 upper parts with purplish and lilac tints. The sides 

 of the head and neck are of a rich purplish brown ; 

 the chest and croup rufous. The legs, under parts, 

 and a prominent blaze down the front of the long 

 face are snow white. From this blaze (bles in 

 Dutch) the antelope obtains its Boer name. The 

 horns average about 15 inches, but a fine pair may 

 measure as much as 17 or 18 inches. 



This very beautiful and characteristic antelope 

 has, like its ally the Tsesseby, extraordinary powers 

 of running, and yields little, if at all, in fleetness and 

 staying ability to that animal. The flesh is excellent 

 eating. Blesbok can usually be stalked on certain 

 Dutch farms in the Orange River Colony and 

 Western Transvaal, by making a pecuniary arrange- 

 ment with the owner ; but since the war it is 

 impossible yet to estimate the numbers of the 

 herds, or remnants of herds, that remain. 



The Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus\ a rare 

 and local species, very nearly resembling the Bles- 

 bok, has in modern times always been confined 

 to a small tract of country near Cape Agulhas, 

 in Cape Colony. In shape, colour, and general 

 appearance it is hardly to be distinguished by 

 the casual observer from the Blesbok. The 

 notable white rump-patches, however, a trifle less 

 interruption of the white blaze on the upper part of 

 the face, and a generally richer colouring, will suffice 

 to identify the species. In stature the animals are 

 almost identical. Ages ago the Bontebok and 



