THE STEINBOK. 31 



might almost be considered rudimentary. The limbs, 

 although possessed of great muscular development, 

 taper from the knee downwards to the finest dimen- 

 sions, while the hoofs that grace the extremities are so. 

 small as to leave a spoor scarcely larger than the 

 point of a lady's finger. When it is considered that 

 this antelope stands quite twenty-two inches at the 

 shoulder, and is about thirty-six inches in length, such 

 an impression for its foot to make is obviously very 

 small. Its general colour is from rufous to a cinnamon 

 brown, sometimes almost passing into red upon the 

 back, while the stomach is as pure white as driven 

 snow. 



The female does not possess horns, but the male 

 has these adornments, which scarcely exceed four 

 inches in length, the base, which is wrinkled, being 

 scarcely larger than a pencil, and decreasing gradually 

 to the finest of points. On emergency, this little gem 

 of the animal creation can use these tiny weapons with 

 great effect, and is far from loth to do so when other 

 means of escape are denied it. 



It inhabits indifferently the bush or grass veldt 

 of high grounds, and is generally to be found in pairs 

 or solitary. The steinbok affords admirable sport. 



