FAMILY C AVICORNIA. HOLLOW-HORNED. 



53 



and arid deserts of South Africa, for which description of country it is 

 admirably adapted. It thrives and attains high condition in barren regions, 

 where it might bo imagined that a locust would not find subsistence, and, 

 burning as is the climate, it is perfectly independent of water, which, from 

 my own observation, and the repeated reports both of the Boers and 

 aborigines, I am convinced it never by any chance tastes. Its flesh is 

 deservedly esteemed, and ranks next to the Eland. At certain seasons of 

 the year they carry a great quantity of fat, at which time they can more 

 easily be ridden into. Owing to the even nature of the ground which the 

 Oryx frequents, its shy and suspicious disposition, and the extreme dis- 

 tances from water to which it must be followed, it is never stalked or 

 driven to an ambush like other Antelopes, but is hunted on horseback, and 

 ridden down by a long, severe, tail-on-end chase. Of several animals in 

 South Africa which are hunted in this manner, and may be ridden into by 

 a Horse, the Oryx is by far the swiftest and most enduring. They are 

 widely diffused throughout the centre and western parts of Southern Africa." 

 The Guinea Antelope (A. Grimmia), one foot and a half high; the 

 Oureh Antelope (A. Scoparia), and the Royal Antelope (A. Pygma-a), are 

 members of this section. The Royal Antelope is figured on Plate 20 : it 

 is not more than nine inches high, its horns are strong, short, sharp-pointed, 

 and perfectly black ; the female has none ; its colour is a bright bay, paler 

 beneath and on the insides of the limbs ; the legs are scarcely thicker than 

 a quill; being occasionally tipped with gold, they have been used as 

 tobacco-stoppers. They inhabit the hottest parts of Africa, and are said to 

 be so active as to be able to leap over a wall twelve feet high. 



4. Horns annulated with a single curve, the points turned backwards. 

 The Blue Goat of the Cape (A. Leucophaea), larger than a Deer, and the 



Equine Antelope (A. Equina), about the size of a Horse, are species of this 

 division. 



5. Horns annulated, and having a single curve pointing forwards. 

 Species the Swift Antelope (A. Dama), the Bed Antelope (A. Redunca), 



the Cinereous Antelope (A. Elcotragus), and the Roebuck of the Seeds (A. 

 Arundinacea), so named from its frequenting reedy places. 



6. Horns surrounded with a spiral wreath. 



Species the Impoof, Impophoo, Cape Elk of the Dutch, or Eland (A. 

 Oreas), is one of the most remarkable in this section. Pennant's descrip- 

 tion of it has been corroborated by Mr. Gumming, from whose work 

 (vol. i. p. 253) the following is extracted : 



" This magnificent animal is by far the largest of all the Antelope tribe, 

 exceeding a large Ox in size. It also attains an extraordinary condition, 

 being often burthened with a very large amount of fat. Its flesh is most 

 excellent, and is justly esteemed above all others. It has a peculiar sweet- 

 ness, and is tender and fit for use the moment the animal is killed. Like 

 the Gemsbok, the Eland is independent of water, and frequents the borders 

 of the great Kalahari desert in herds varying from ten to a hundred. It is 

 also generally diffused throughout all the wooded districts of the interior 

 where I have hunted. Like other varieties of Deer and Antelope, the old 

 males may often be found consorting together apart from the females ; and 

 a troop of these, when in full condition, may be likened to a herd of stall- 

 fed Oxen. The Eland has less speed than any other variety of Antelope ; 

 and, by judicious riding, they may be driven to camp from a great distance. 

 In this manner I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and 

 brought him within gunshot of my waggons, where I could more conve- 

 niently cut up and preserve the flesh, without the trouble of sending men 

 and pack-oxen to fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an Eland drop down 

 dead at the end of a severe chase, owing to his plethoric habit. The skin 

 of the Eland I had just shot emitted, like most other Antelopes, the most 

 delicious perfume of trees and grass." 



A fair specimen of this species may be seen in the British Museum. 

 Mr. Adam White, in his "Popular History of Mammalia," informs us that 

 " in 1842 the Earl of Derby had three of those animals alive in his fine 

 menagerie, and he found that they stood this climate very well, both winter 

 and summer, without any other protection than a shed, to which they could 

 resort in cold weather." 



The Striped Antelope (A. Strepsiceros) is a noble animal : it is as large 

 as a Stag, is very active, and leaps in an extraordinary manner. Dr. Forster 

 says he saw one leap ten feet high. Its spirally-twisted horns are described 

 by Sir W. C. Harris as ponderous, yet symmetrical. 



The Spotted Goat of the Cape, or Harnessed Antelope (A. Scripta), and 

 the Forest Antelope (A. Sylvatica), belong to this section. 



7. Horns smooth. 



Species the White-footed Antelope (A. Picta), figured on Plate 20, is 

 four feet high to the top of the shoulder, the horns short, pointed, smooth, 

 and of a blackish colour, bending a little forwards; the hair greyish, 

 with a large patch of white beneath the throat ; the feet, just above the 

 hoofs, marked by two white bands in the male, and three black, with two 

 white ones in the female ; a slight mane of black hair traverses the neck, 

 and a larger tuft of a similar colour is situated on the breast ; the female 

 has no horns, is smaller, and of a pale-brown colour. It inhabits the interior 

 of India. 



The Hindostan Antelope (A. Trago-camellus) is not so elegant in form as 

 the other species : it resembles a Camel in many particulars. One seen by 

 Dr. Parsons was thirteen feet high. 



The Chamois Antelope (A. Rupicapra) "is the only ruminating animal 

 of the west of Europe," says Cuvier, " which can be compared to the 

 Antelope." It is about the size of the common Goat, of a rufous-brown 

 colour, with the cheeks, chin, throat, and belly of a yellowish white, and a 

 streak of black passing from the eye down to the muzzle ; its horns, which 

 are straight, have their points suddenly curved back, like a fish-hook. 



This is a very timorous animal ; it lives in small troops, in the middle 

 regions of very high mountains, skipping with great activity over the steep 

 rocks ; it feeds chiefly early in the morning and evening, during which time 

 a sentinel is on the watch, who alarms the herd by a shrill cry. The chase 

 of them is very laborious. 



Under this section the Gnus (Catobeplas) have been placed ; but Colonel 

 Smith has separated them from the Antelopes in consequence of the differ- 

 ences which exist between them. Compare the figures on Plate 20. 



The Gnu differs from the Antelope, even more than the Chamois, and at 

 first presents to the eye a monster made up of the parts of different animals ; 

 its body and hind quarters are similar to those of a small horse, covered 

 with brown hair ; the tail is furnished with long white hairs, also like the 

 Horse ; and on the neck is a fine straight mane, which is white at the 

 roots, but black at the edge ; its head is large, and the mouth square like 

 the Ox, the lips covered with short stiff' bristles, and from the nose up the 

 forehead runs an oblong square brush of stiff bristles ; round the eyes grow 

 several radii of strong white bristles. Both sexes are horned, and the horns 

 of the young are said to be straight. It is a fierce and dangerous animal, 

 living in large herds in the mountains north of the Cape. 



" The Gnus and the Buffalo," says Dr. Andrew Smith, " rarely fly 

 immediately on their discovering noises or appearances which excite their 

 surprise or apprehension. Frequently the only result which follows the 

 discharge of muskets is a momentary halt, a gaze, a confused rush in no 

 given direction, and then a determined attempt to persevere in the direction 

 they had been pursuing, even though such should carry them nearer to the 

 position of their assailants." 



CAPRA Goat. This genus of animals is distinguished from the Sheep 

 by its vivacity and courage, by its horns not being twisted, and by its having 

 a long beard. Another distinction is the extremely offensive smell which 

 the Goat emits, and which does not belong to the Sheep. It is a very 

 useful animal, supplying food and raiment in no inconsiderable degree. 



Species the Caucasian Goat (C. jEgagrus) is larger in size than the 

 common Goat, and is one of the animals from which the Bezoars are 

 obtained: these were formerly considered very valuable in medicine as 

 alexipharmics ; in proof of which it may be mentioned that Tavemier sold 

 one, weighing four ounces and a quarter, for the sum of two thousand livres. 



From this species is believed to have originated several varieties, of which 

 (1) the/rst is the Common Goat (C. Hircus), a native of every part of the old 

 world ; but it does not appear to have been known in America before that 



