THE ANTELOPE FAMILY 323 



confined to the Old World, Africa with nearly a hundred 

 species containing the bulk of it ; in Europe and Asia there 

 are but a few ; and in North-west America a still less number 

 of species. 



Usually the body of an Antelope is supported on slender 

 but vigorous limbs, constructed for the utmost speed, 

 the hinder legs being the longer and the haunches elevated 

 accordingly. The head, beautiful in contour, is almost 

 invariably small. The eyes are large, full, and brilliant. 

 In most cases both sexes have horns, always cylindrical and 

 set closely together. Many of the horns are marked by 

 transverse ridges ; some are perfectly straight ; some are 

 spirally twisted ; and they are hooked backwards or, in few 

 cases, forwards. There are no upper incisor or canine 

 teeth, but in the lower jaw are three incisors and one 

 canine on each side. There are twenty-four molars, six on 

 each side, top and bottom. The hair is generally sleek and 

 close. 



Practically all the Antelopes inhabit open plains, eating 

 grass and other vegetable food. They are as fleet as the 

 wind, and as their speed is their only defence, they are 

 endowed with sight, hearing, and smell to perfection, 

 allowing them to perceive the ^approach of enemies while 

 they are yet at a distance. There are many regions, 

 particularly in South Africa, where Antelopes once roamed 

 practically undisturbed, but as these tracts are more and 

 more opened up to civilisation and human society advances, 

 the Antelopes retreat to the still further wilds and solitudes. 



It is impossible to include many of the different species, 

 but the following selection may be accepted as typical 

 representatives of the great Antelope family. 



CHAMOIS (Rupicapra tragus}. 

 Coloured Plate XX. Fig. 2. 



The Chamois is sometimes classed with the goats, some- 

 times with the Antelopes, while some zoologists prefer 

 to separate it into a distinct group. It may best be 

 accepted as the only Antelope of Europe, being an inhabi- 

 tant of the Alps, Carpathians, Greece, and the Caucasus. 



