THE BEISA ORYX 



(Oryx beisa) 



THIS fine Antelope is one of a small group of large species which 

 have somewhat of the Horse in their proportions and general appear- 

 ance ; indeed, it has been suggested that the legendary Unicorn origi- 

 nated in stories of a one-horned Oryx of some kind, such specimens 

 sometimes occurring. The Beisa is about the size of a small Donkey, 

 and both sexes bear the long lance-like horns, ringed at the base and 

 smooth at the tip. The horns of the female are, however, longer and 

 slenderer than those of the male, and may even exceed a yard in 

 length, those of males seldom much exceeding two and a half feet. 

 Probably as a protection against these terrible weapons in their com- 

 bats with each other, the skin on the shoulders of the male Beisa is 

 very thick ; he is also slightly stouter-necked and taller than the female, 

 but the sexes are not easy to distinguish when a herd is sighted. 



Blanford has drawn attention to the pointed triangular shape of 

 the hoof in this Antelope, and says that this form of foot is particularly 

 characteristic of desert-haunting species like these Oryxes and the 

 Gazelles, the more forest-haunting species having rounder feet, like 

 Deer or Cattle. 



The Beisa Oryx is a characteristic animal of North-Eastern Africa, 

 from Suakin southward to the Tana River, and is very well known 

 in Somaliland. It frequents dry open country, feeding mostly on 

 grass, though occasionally browsing on acacia shoots ; and, though in 

 some localities it drinks regularly, it is often found quite away from 

 any water, and evidently living entirely without it. 



It is very elegant in its movements, which are much like those of 

 a Horse ; it usually walks or trots, but will gallop if greatly alarmed. 

 When charging, it puts down the head between the fore-legs, so as 

 to bring forward the points of the long horns ; it is a fierce animal, 

 and decidedly dangerous when brought to bay. 



Though often found solitary, especially in the case of males, the 

 Beisa is usually seen in herds, numbering from half-a-dozen up to 

 forty or more ; indeed, there is at least one record of a herd numbering 



ii 



