RUMINANTIA. 



leaps, reveals a large patch of white, is especially 

 numerous. In so large a genus there is of course 

 much variety; while some are minute and timid, 

 others are of giant size, strength, and courage. The 

 Pigmy Antelope (A. Pygm&a), the smallest and most 

 elegant of all the Ruminantia, rarely exceeds ten 

 inches in height. Mr. Steedman says, "I occa- 

 sionally caught sight of the little Blauw-bok, or 

 Pigmy Antelope, which inhabits the woods and lives 

 among the thick bushes. Nothing can surpass the 

 grace and agility with which these elegant little 

 animals bound along through the shady avenues of 

 the primeval forests of South Africa ; and now 

 skipping over some opposing shrub now darting be- 

 neath the rank vegetation, butting at each other with 

 their tiny horns, and playing a thousand innocent 

 and amusing gambols."* On the other hand, the 

 Eland or Caana (A. Oreas), and the Koba of Senegal 

 (A. Equina), equal the largest horse in size and 

 power. The Gems-bok (A. Oryx), a violent and 

 fierce beast, defends itself against the Lion with 

 such success that both are occasionally found dead, 

 the Lion transfixed by the straight horns of the An- 

 telope. Mr. Steedman tells of a boor, who was 

 attacked by a wounded Gems-bok ; the animal rush- 

 ing to him, thrust its horns into his horse, throw- 

 ing off the rider with great violence.f 



But while the majority of these animals have the 

 slender form and taper limbs of the Deer, other 

 genera seem to have their representatives also among 

 * Wanderings, vol. i. p. 321. t Ibid. vol. ii. p. 1. 



