THE SCYTHIAN ANTELOPE. 



Centincls Extreme timidity. 



is covered with long rough hair, like the he-goat; 

 but the female is smooth and witlvout horns. 

 The general colour of the hody is grey, mixed 

 with yellow ; but the belly is white. Jn a v;ild 

 state they are never heard to exert 'their voice; 

 but when brought up tame, the young emit a 

 sort of bleating cry, like that of a lamb. 



Towards the latter end of autumn great flocks 

 of these animals, consisting of several thousands, 

 migrate toward the South, anr. return in the 

 spring, ia smaller flocks, to the great northern 

 deserts of Poland, Moldavia, Mount Caucasus, 

 tmd Siberia. 



It seldom happens that a whole flock lies 

 down to rest all at the same time; some being 

 always stationed on watch. When these are 

 tired they give a kind of notice to such as have 

 taken their rest, who instantly rise, and relieve 

 the centinels of the preceding hours- By this 

 means they often preserve themselves from the 

 attacks of wolves, and the insidious, stratagems 

 of the hunters. They are so swift that they axe 

 able for some time to out-run the fleetest horse 

 or greyhound ; and their feet appear scarcely to 

 touch the ground; yet such is their extreme timi- 

 dity and shortness of breath, that they are very 

 soon taken. If they are but bitten by <i dog they 

 instantly fall down, and will not again attempt to 

 rise. In consequence of the heat of the sun, and 

 the reflection of its rays from the sandy plains 



VOL. II, NO. IX. I 



