60 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



THE KLIPSPRINGER 



(Oreotragus saltator) 



THE Klipspringer is, of all African Antelopes, the best adapted for a 

 mountain life ; its feet are peculiarly formed, there being no bend at 

 the pasterns, and the hoofs being long in a vertical direction, so that 

 the feet look like so many pegs, the animal standing on the very tips. 

 The hair is very coarse and thick, and the horns very small and erect. 

 The Klipspringer is a small animal, standing about two feet at 

 the shoulder, and is extremely active, skipping about from rock to 

 rock, and finding a foothold in the most inaccessible places ; it is 

 only found in small parties, and ranges from Somaliland to the Cape, 

 wherever there is rocky ground. 



THE ROYAL ANTELOPE 



(Nanotragus pygmaus) 



IN spite of its imposing title, this is the smallest Antelope known, 

 being only about as big as a wild Rabbit, with long and very slender 

 legs. Its horns are very minute, not an inch long ; and the coat is 

 bright fawn above and white below. This tiny creature lives in the 

 forests of the West Coast of Africa, being found singly or in pairs, 

 and is extraordinarily active, being said to make bounds of three 

 yards at a time. It is rare even in Museums, and has never been 

 brought to Europe alive. 



THE DIKDIKS 



THE Dikdiks (Madoqua) are little creatures not bigger than Hares, 

 with long noses which in some cases almost approach the trunk of the 

 Tapirs in form. Like the Duikers, they have a tuft of hair on the 

 crown, and their tails are very short. They are bush-haunting animals, 

 and not more than two or three are found together. There are about 

 half-a-dozen species of these little Antelopes, widely distributed over 

 East and North-East Africa. They are rare, however, in captivity, 

 and up to date only one species has been exhibited at our Zoological 

 Gardens. 



