236 RUMINANTIA. 



over a net at least eleven feet high ; and that these animals fre- 

 quently vault to the height of twelve or thirteen feet, passing 

 over ten or twelve yards at a single bound. They are usually 

 hunted by the Cheetah, which "creeps cat-like towards the herd 

 and bounding upon a selected victim, dashes it to the ground 

 with a blow." In size they equal the fallow deer. They are 

 bold and familiar in captivity, and would be graceful ornaments 

 to public parks. The fakirs and dervishes of the East polish 

 their horns and wear them at their girdles instead of swords and 

 daggers, which their religious vocation prevents them from using. 



A. tragulus. (Lat. dim. goat.) The STEIN-BOCK, or STONE- 

 BUCK. (3 ft. 4 in. long, 1 ft. 7 in. high.) 



This ranks as one of the most elegant and graceful of the 

 Antelope tribe. The legs are longer and smaller in proportion to 

 its bulk than in any other species. A remarkable distinction in 

 this species, (existing also in the Spring or Prong Buck,) is the to- 

 tal absence of spurious hoofs, both on the fore and hind feet, a 

 character which " no other ruminating animals of the hollow- 

 horned family possess." The Stein-Buck resides in pairs on the 

 stony plains and mountain valleys of South Africa. When 

 closely pressed, and without power to escape, it will hide its 

 head in the first hole or corner it meets with, and thus patiently 

 resign itself to its fate. 



A. oreotragus. (Gr, ogog, oros, mountain ; tQ&yog, tragos, goat. 

 Mountain -goat.) The KAINSI, or KLIPPSPRINGER. (3 ft. 2 in. long.) 



This is an antelope which inhabits the most barren and inacces- 

 sible mountains of the Cape, and appears to supply, in South Af- 

 rica, the place of the Chamois and Ibex ; the general color of 

 the hair above is a lively mixture of yellow and green, and light 

 sandy yellow tinged with red beneath ; the texture of the hair in 

 this, as in the Spring or Prong Bock, is so fragile that it breaks 

 with the slightest touch, crushing like straw between the fingers, 

 and it is so wanting in elasticity that it never regains its original 

 form. The legs are more robust than in most other species ; 

 and the hoofs, instead of being pointed and flat beneath, are en- 

 tirely round and cylindrical, being worn only at the tips, upon 

 which alone the animal treads. This, with other peculiarities of 

 structure enables the Klippspringer to bound with very surprising 

 agility among the most dangerous rocks and precipices. 



A, saltiana. (Lat. leaping or bounding.) The MADOQUA. (2 

 ft. long, 14 in. high.) 



This antelope is found in all parts of Abyssinia, where it was 

 first discovered by Bruce, and lives in pairs in mountainous dis- 

 tricts. It is well nigh the smallest of all horned animals, be- 



