xxi HORNS 269 



different species of antelopes. In the marshbnck the 

 spiral is wide and long (p. 34). The horns of the 

 bushbuck are not unlike an old-fashioned two-tined 

 fork with twisted tines. In the eland the horns are 

 parallel and the twist is close and tight ; in the kudu 

 and the bongo the spiral is open and graceful, not- 

 withstanding the thickness of the horns in proportion 

 to their length. The horns in the young eland bull 

 are straight, and betray no sign of twist. The forces 

 which determine the spiral growth of antelope's horns 

 are unrecognised, and this applies equally to the forma- 

 tion of the rings on " annulated " horns and the 

 "crumpling" of the horns of oxen. In this group 

 horns are usually restricted to the males, and they 

 are not ringed. Among elands the horns of the cows 

 are longer than those of the bulls. 



(2) Annulated Horns. These possess transverse 

 ridges or rings. Such horns are seen in the hartebeest, 

 the oryx, the cobs, the reedbucks, roan antelope, 

 gazelles, and duikers. Among antelopes with annu- 

 lated horns the females, as a rule, are similarly 

 decorated, but the horns are smaller than those of the 

 male. 



There is one curious antelope with horns of such an 

 odd shape that it will not fit into either of these groups, 

 namely, the wildebeest or gnu. In regard to this weird 

 animal, with horns more like those of the buffalo than 

 the other members of the antelope section of this great 

 family, it is noteworthy that in the young gnu they 

 grow out like spikes and subsequently assume the odd 

 shape seen in the adult animal (p. 301). 



The annulated horns of antelopes differ in an extra- 

 ordinary way in shape and in the relation of the horns 

 to each other ; they also vary enormously in size in 

 different animals of the same species. 



The horns of the oryx are almost straight and nearly 

 parallel to each other. They are much prized by 

 hunters. Sometimes they attain a length of thirty-six 



