298 



BUSH ANTELOPES ; CAPRIFORM ANTELOPES. 



being driven into the inclosure, through gaps in its sides, by 

 the shouts of the hunters and the noise of their fire-arms. When 

 taken young, the Gazelle, though naturally so wild and timid, is 

 readily domesticated, and becomes quite familiar. Tame Gazelles 

 are frequently seen at large, in the court-yards of houses in 

 Syria ; and their beauty, exquisite form, and playfulness, render 

 them great favourites. 



266. The Busk Antelopes are of a more compact form, and 

 have shorter limbs ; hence they are animals of less activity, but 

 of more vigour, than the true Antelopes. They live singly or in 

 pairs, frequenting jungles, dense reed-beds, and the underwoods 

 of forests ; most of them preferring hills or mountain districts 

 of moderate elevation. When pursued, they dive through the 

 thicket, and quickly disappear. These also are chiefly found in 

 the Southern and Western parts of Africa. The species repre- 

 sented in the accompanying figure, is found in the neighbourhood 

 of Sierra Leone ; and by the English residents there it is called 



the Bush-goat. It is a 

 dull heavy animal, lurk- 

 ing in the thickets 

 during the day, and 

 resorting to the open 

 spaces in the mornings 

 to feed. Its back is 

 arched, its legs short, 

 and it has altogether 

 somewhat of a pig-like 

 shape ; but its flesh is 

 more esteemed than that 

 of the more handsome 



and agile Antelopes. Its length is about five feet ; and its height 

 three. The horns are very short. 



267. The Capriform Antelopes are more widely diffused ; 

 being inhabitants of mountain ranges and hilly countries in all 

 quarters of the globe. They are characterised by the very com- 

 pact and robust form of their bodies, and by their general adap- 

 tation for a mountain life. The head is heavy, the neck short, 



FIG. 152 BUSH ANTELOPE. 



