ANTELOPES 75 



Europe at Paris, Vienna, Stockholm, Leyden, and 

 Upsala. 



THE GEMSBUCK. The gemsbuck is the only example 

 of the oryx group found in South Africa, and more than 

 one thousand five hundred miles intervene between the 

 northernmost limit of his range, and the most southerly 

 habitat of the next species of the genus. This is, there- 

 fore, another remarkable example of immense areas 

 separating two species of the same genus, areas which 

 are neither inhabited by a single representative of either 

 at the present day, nor bear any indication of having been 

 so within recent times. 



The gemsbuck is now confined to the extreme north- 

 west of the Cape Colony, Bechuanaland, German South- 

 West Africa, and the southern part of Angola. He is 

 fairly numerous in the Kalahari Desert, and maintains 

 his security, alike from hunters and carnivora, owing to 

 his independence of water. Like the eland, but in still 

 greater measure, he seems to be able amply to quench 

 his thirst from the moist tubers and roots which he 

 smells out and unearths. He is a massive and handsome 

 antelope, of great pugnacity and courage, and his long 

 straight hoins can be used upon occasion with considerable 

 effect. 



Gemsbuck are typical desert animals ; they favour 

 a quite open country, or one covered only with small 

 stunted bush. Solitary bulls will often retire into dense 

 thickets during the heat of the day. They are generally 

 found in small troops. Mr. Selous records fifteen as the 

 largest number he ever saw together. Gemsbuck are 

 particularly wary and long-sighted antelopes. 



THE BEISA. The beisa is geographically the next 

 species of the oryx met with, and is divided into two 

 varieties. These oryxes associate in much larger numbers 



