

ANTELOPE. 



Antilope cervicapra. Desm. 



PLATE XXIX. THE ANTELOPE. 



IN size it is rather smaller than the fallow deer. Its 

 color is a dusky brown, mixed with red ; the belly, breast, 

 and inside of the limbs, are white ; and on the head, back, 

 and outside of the limbs, the hair is darker than on any 

 other part ; the orbits of the eyes are white, and there is 

 a small patch of the same color on each side of the fore- 

 head ; the tail is short. The horns, which are about 

 sixteen inches long, are black, distinctly annulated almost 

 to the top, and have three curves ; the brachia, or sides of 

 the lyre, were frequently made of these horns, as appears 

 from ancient gems. The female is destitute of horns, and 

 may also be known by a white stripe on the flanks. 



The race of antelope's is famous for the concretion 

 known by the name of bezoar. This word is supposed to 

 be derived from the Arabic language, where it signifies 

 antidote or counter-poison. It is found in the stomach and 

 intestines of many animals, and brought over principally 

 from the East Indies. Like all other animal concretions, 

 it is found to have a kind of nucleus, or hard substance 

 within, upon which the external coatings are formed ; for, 

 upon being sawn through, it seems to have layer over 

 layer, as an onion. 



This nucleus is of various kinds ; sometimes the buds 

 of a shrub, sometimes pieces of flint, stones of plums, 

 tamarinds, seeds of cassia, and sometimes a marcasite. 

 The stone itself varies from the size of an acorn to that of 

 a pigeon's egg ; and the larger it is, the more valuable it is 

 reckoned its price increasing like that of a diamond. 



