

BOVID^E 343 



Upper molars extremely hypsodont, very broad, and with large 

 accessory columns, thus closely resembling those of the Oxen. 

 Some authorities divide this section into two. In the Pliocene it 

 occurs in India and Europe. 



Hippotragus. 1 Horns stout, rising vertically from a crest over 

 the orbit at an obtuse angle to the plane of the nasals, then 

 recurved ; lachrymal fissure in some instances almost obliterated. 

 Neck with an erect recurved mane. Tail very distinctly tufted. 

 Four species, tropical Africa and south to the Cape. 



The Sable Antelope (H. niger) is one of the best -known 

 examples of this genus, occurring in South and East Africa. It 

 stands upwards of 4- feet in height at the withers, and, except 

 for some white streaks on the face and the whole of the under 

 surface of the body, is of a black colour. The Blaubok (H. leuco- 

 phceus) is distinguished by the glaucous hue of the hair. The other 

 species are the Equine Antelope (H. equinus) and Baker's Antelope 

 (H. bakeri) from the Sudan, both closely allied, but the latter 

 distinguished by its pale fulvous colour, pencilled ears, and black 

 stripes on the shoulder. 



Skulls of fossil Antelopes from the Pliocene of India have been 

 referred to Hippotragus (H. sivalensis), and Sir V. Brooke suggests 

 that the European Pliocene Antilope redicornis is not generically 

 separable. 



Oryx. 2 Horns long, slender, nearly straight or somewhat 

 recurved, rising behind the orbit, and inclining backwards in the 

 plane of the nasals ; lachrymal fossa distinct. Nape maned ; tail 

 long, and more haired than in Hippotragus. Four species, ranging 

 over all the African deserts to Arabia and Syria. 



The Gemsbok (0. gazella, Fig. 141), is a South African species 

 characterised by its straight horns, the presence of a tuft of 

 hair on the throat, as well as by the large patches and stripes 

 of black on the head, back, limbs, and flanks. It stands nearly 

 4 feet in height at the shoulder, and the horns are 2 feet 9 

 inches in length. The colour of the upper part of the body is 

 a rusty gray, and of the under part white, while these are separ- 

 ated from each other by a well-defined black band on either side. 

 These bands unite on the breast, and are continued as a single 

 black band until reaching the lower jaw, where they again divide 

 and form two transverse bands on the head, terminating at 

 the base of the horns. The head otherwise is white, as also are 

 the limbs, with the exception of the thighs, which are black. 

 The Gemsbok generally goes in pairs, or in small herds of three 

 or four. The Beisa (0. beisa) of Abyssinia is distinguished by 

 the absence of the tuft of hair on the throat. Writing of this 



1 Sundevall, Kongl. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. for 1844, p. 196. 

 2 De Blainville, Bull. Soc. Philmn. 1816, p. 75. 



