BOVIDsE 339 



Mr. W. T. Blanford 1 observes that " the JSeni-Israel, or Om-dig-dig, 

 one of the smallest Antelopes known, abounds on the shores of 

 the Eed Sea and throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of 

 Abyssinia. It is occasionally, but rarely, found at higher eleva- 

 tions ; I heard of instances of its being shot both at Serafie and 

 Dildi, but it is not often seen above about 6000 feet. It inhabits 

 bushes, keeping much to heavy jungle on the banks of water-courses, 

 and is usually single, or in pairs, either a male and female or a 

 female and young being found together ; less often the female is 

 accompanied by two young ones, which remain with her until 

 full grown." 



Nanotragus. 2 Horns small, parallel with f rentals, and rising 

 immediately above postorbital process of frontals, in front of the 

 fr onto -parietal suture. Lachrymal fossa very large, suddenly 

 descending in front of the orbit, and extending on to the 

 maxilla ; lachrymal vacuity small. Auditory bulla large and 

 smooth, without internal septum. Nasals of moderate length. 

 Crown of the head smooth ; naked part of muffle small ; aperture 

 of suborbital gland small. Lateral hoofs small or absent. Nine 

 species. 3 



The typical species is the Royal Antelope (N. pygmceus) of 

 Guinea, the smallest existing representative of the Pecora. This 

 species, together with N. moschatus and N. tragulus have no lateral 

 hoofs, or tufts on the knees. In the Scopophorine group, comprising 

 N. scoparia, N. montanus, and JV. hastatus, both these appendages 

 are present; while in the Oreotragine group (N. melanotis and 

 N. oreotragus) the former are present and the latter absent. 



Pelea* Horns rather small, compressed, upright, scarcely 

 diverging, and placed immediately over the orbits. No suborbital 

 gland, nor lachrymal fossa ; premaxillse not reaching nasals. Tail 

 short and bushy. Colour uniform. One species the Rehbok 

 (P. capreola), South Africa, is nearly of the size of a Fallow Deer, 

 although more resembling a Chamois in build and habits. The 

 colour is of a uniform light gray. This animal inhabits bare 

 rocky districts, and thus differs widely from the Water-buck and 

 its allies. 



Cobus. 5 Large Antelopes, with the horns large, elongate, sub- 

 lyrate, and ringed at the base, and with rudimentary suborbital 

 glands. Skull with a deep frontal hollow, no lachrymal depression, 



1 Geology and Zoology of Abyssinia, p. 268. 



- Sundevall, Krnigl. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. for 1844, p. 191. Taken to 

 include Calotragus, Scopophorus, Nesotragus, Pediotragus, and Orcotragus of Gray. 



3 See V. Brooke, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, pp. 642 and 875. 



4 Gray, Cat. Ungulate Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 90 (1852). 



5 Andrew Smith, Illustrations of Zoology of South Africa, No. 12 (1840), 

 " Kobus." Is taken to include Adenota and Onotragus of Gray. 



