34 THE ANTELOPE. 



or dogs ; and scarcely shuns any denizen of the forests, 

 in the haunts where he ranges. His colour is always 

 an iron grey, inclining to black, his snout is longer than 

 that of the common breed, and his ears are comparatively 

 short. His tusks are very formidable, and all his habits 

 are fierce and savage. 



Hunting the wild boar is a favourite diversion in 

 Germany, Poland, &c. and his flesh is much esteemed, 

 when properly cured. He is a native of most parts of the 

 world ; but the breed has long been extinct in England ; 

 though, under William the Norman, the killing of one was 

 punished with loss of eyes. 



THE ANTELOPE. 



The antelopes are a very numerous tribe, inhabiting 

 chiefly those parts of the temperate zones which are nearer 

 to the torrid. They abound in Asia and Africa ; two species 

 only are to be found in Europe, aud none have hitherto 

 been discovered in America. They are remarkably active 

 and elegant in their form; of a restless and timid 

 disposition ; of great vivacity ; watchful and rapid in their 

 movements, taking such bounds as astonish the spectators. 

 They will sometimes stop in the midst of their course, 

 gaze on their pursuers, and then continue their flight. 

 The chase of these animals is a favourite amusement of 

 the Eastern nations. The greyhound, the fleetest of 

 dogs, cannot overtake the still fleeter antelope, but the 

 sportsman is obliged to avail himself of the falcon, 

 trained for this purpose, who seizes on the animal, and, 

 by impeding its motions, enables the dogs to obtain 

 their prey. In India and Persia, the hunting leopard is 

 used in the chase of the antelope. Some species of the 

 antelope form herds of several thousands ; others associate 

 to the number of five or six. Some inhabit the plains, 

 but most of the species dwell in the mountains. They 

 often browse like the goat on the tender shoots of trees. 

 The flesh is good, and that of the hunted antelopes 

 is particularly savoury. The Egyptian Antelope is some- 

 what larger than a deer : it is found about the Cape of 

 Good Hope and in other parts of Africa. The horns 

 are very remarkable, being quite straight, about three feet 

 in length, very slender, tapering towards the poinf, and 



