THE PALLAH. 



641 



attained its full growth, the tips of the horns point forward, and only begin to turn 

 inward as the animal increases in age. When the animal leaps into the air it curves its 

 back, and exhibits the characteristic white patch upon the croup, and has, from this hab- 

 it, received the name of Pronk-bok, or Showy Buck, from the Dutch colonists. The na- 

 tive name of the Spring-bok is Tsebe, a word that bears a remarkable resemblance to 

 the Hebrew word Tsebi, which is supposed to signify the Dorcas gazelle. 



The PALLAH, or ROOYE-BOK, is also an inhabitant of Southern Africa, where it is seen 

 in large herds, almost rivalling in numbers those of the spring-bok. 



It is a remarkably fine animal, measuring three feet in height at the shoulder, and 

 being gifted with elegantly shaped horns and a beautifully tinted coat. The general 

 color of the Pallah is bay, fading into white on the abdomen, the lower part of the tail 

 and the peculiar disk of lighter colored hairs which surrounds the root of the tail in so 



PALL\H./Epyceros Melampus. 



many Antelopes. There is a black semilunar mark on the croup, which serves as an 

 easy method of distinguishing the Pallah from the other Antelopes. Its specific name, 

 Melampus, is of Greek origin, signifying black-footed, in allusion to the jetty hue of the 

 back of its feet. 



The horns of this animal are of considerable length, often attaining to twenty inches, 

 and are rather irregular in their growth. They are very distinctly marked with rings, 

 and are lyrate in form, though not so decidedly as is the case with many other Antelopes. 



The food of the Pallah is very similar to that of the spring-bok, and consists chiefly 



of tender herbage and the young twigs of the underwood among which it generally takes 



up its abode. It is hardly so timid an animal as the spring-bok, and will often allow 



strange creatures to approach the herd without much difficulty. It has a curious habit 



4* 



