CHAPTER XX 



THE ANTELOPE 



THERE is no animal that belongs to the Cervidce south of the 

 Sahara desert ; the deer of Barbary is supposed to have been in- 

 troduced from Europe, possibly by the Carthaginians ; at any rate, 

 there are no deer throughout the vast continent of Africa, excepting 

 the Northern States which border the Mediterranean. This is a 

 peculiar feature in the African fauna, the deer being common to all 

 other portions of the globe. In Africa, in the absence of deer, we 

 find an extraordinary variety of the antelopes. 



The antelopes, although possessing many of the characteristics 

 of deer, have a distinguishing feature in the permanency of their 

 horns ; these grow like those of the Bos, in proportion to the age 

 of the animal. There is an extraordinary variation in both shape 

 and length, according to the species, also in the distribution of 

 horns among the sexes ; in some antelopes the horns are confined 

 to the male, while in other varieties both the male and female are 

 thus armed. 



Although Africa takes precedence for size and variety of species, 

 the antelope is found in different portions of the world, in smaller 

 numbers, but in most instances distinct examples. In North 

 America the well-known antelope of the prairies is totally unlike 

 all others in the peculiar position of the horns ; these are prong- 

 shaped, slightly palmated, and are fitted at right angles with the 

 flat top of the skull, starting from exactly above the orbit of the 

 eye, which forms the base. This animal (A. furcifera) is quite 

 unlike all other antelopes, in shedding the sheath of its horns 

 annually. This species was to be found in enormous numbers at 

 the commencement of this century, and even now, owing to its 

 natural vigilance, it has escaped the general destruction of wild 

 game. The live weight is about 90 Ibs., and the flesh is excellent. 

 The females are devoid of horns. 



