

\ EUTEBRATA, 



THE ORYX OR GEMSBOK. 



Genus ORYX: Oryx. — Of this, there are several species: the Gemsbok or Kookaam, 0. 

 lla, Antilope Oryx of Pallas, is the Oryx of Cuvier, the Papan of Buffon, and the Egyptian 

 Ai'iilo/ie of Pennant. It is a heavy, stout animal, about five feet in length, and three feet two 

 inches high ut the shoulder; the length of the horns is from two feet to two and a half, that of 

 the ears seven inches, and that of the tail thirteen or fourteen inches. The horns are almost 

 perfectly straight, very little divergent, and situated in the plane of the forehead. The general 

 color is rusty iron-gray. It inhabits the karroos of South Africa: it is never found in the woods, 

 but keeps on the open plains, and lives in pairs or small families of four or five individuals. It is 

 extremely dangerous to approach when wounded, if not completely disable*], making vigorous use 

 of its long, powerful boms, and it is said, being not unfrequently the first to commence the assault. 

 We are even assured that the lion himself is afraid to attack this powerful and courageous ani- 

 mal, and thai Bometimes when, pressed by famine, he has ventured to do so, he has been beaten 

 off with disgrace, or even paid for his temerity with his life. In evidence of this, we have 

 from Dr. Livingstone the following description f a conflict which he witnessed in South Africa 

 between a lion and a Gemsbok. .lust as he and his guide emerged from a narrow defile between 

 two rocky hills, tiny heard an angry growl, which they knew to be that of the monarch of the 

 forest. At the distance of nol more than forty yards in advance of them a gemsbok stood al 

 hay, while ,-i huge, ?awn\ linn was crouched on a rocky platform, above the level of the plain, 

 evidently meditating an attack on the antilope. Only a space of twenty feet' separated the two 

 animals. The lion appeared to he in a state of furious excitement ; the gemsbok was apparently 



