A N'T ELOPE* 509 



has prefixed them to his particular description of 

 the species. 



" They inhabit (says this author), two or three 

 species excepted, the hottest part of the globe; 

 or, at least, those parts of the temperate zone that 

 lie so near the tropics as to form a doubtful cli- 

 mate. None, therefore, except the Saiga and the 

 Chttmoi*, are to be met with in Europe; and not- 

 withstanding the warmth of South America is 

 suited to their nature, not a single species has yet 

 lieen discovered in any part of the new world. 

 Their proper climates seem, therefore, to be those 

 ,M;I and Africa, where the species are very nu- 

 merous. 



" As there appears a general agreement in the 

 nature of the species that form this great genus, 

 it will prevent needless repetition to observe, that 

 the Antelopes are animals generally of a most ele- 

 gant and active make; of a lestless and timid dis- 

 position : cxtruncly watchful; of great vivacity ; 

 remarkably swift and agile, and most of their 

 bounding* M> light, so elastic, as to strike the 



itor with astonishment, \\hat is \ci\ 

 gnlar is that they will .stop in the midst of their 

 ruur.se, ga/c for a moment at their pursuers, and 

 then resume their flight. 



" As the chare of these animals is a favourite 

 amusement with the eastern nations, from that 

 may be collected proofs of the rapid .speed of the 

 Antelope tribe. Tin- gicy hound, the fleetest of 

 is usually unequal in the course, and the 

 sportsman is obliged to call in the aid of the 



v. ii. p. ii. 91 



