The SAIGA, or SCYTHIAN 

 ANTILOPii*. 



IN Hungary, Poland, Tartary, and the fou- 

 thern parts of Siberia, there is a fpecies of 

 goat, called Seigah or Saiga by the Ruffians, 

 which, in the figure of the body and the hair, 



refembles 



* The Scythian antilope has horns a foot long, bending 

 a little in the middle, the points inclining inward, and the 

 ends fmooth ; the other part is iurrounded with very promi- 

 nent annuli. They are of a pale yellow colour, and the great- 

 eft part femipellucid. The length of the animal is four feet 

 nine inches and a quarter ; the height before, two feet fix 

 inches and a half, and behind, two feet feven inches and a 

 h;i!f. The tail is three inches long. The head is like that of 

 a fneep ; the nofe is very large, arched, and marked the 

 whple length with a fmall line, caufed by the elevation of 

 the fcptun narium. The noftrils are tubular and large. The 

 upper lip hangs over the under. The nofe is foi;med of a 

 mufcular fubftance mixed with fat. The cutting teeth are 

 fo loofe in their fockets, as to move with the leaft touch. 

 The male is covered with rough hair, like the he-goat, and 

 has a very ftrong fmell : The female is fmoother. The hair 

 on the bottom of the fides and the throat is long, and re- 

 fembles wool ; that on the fides of the head and neck is 

 hoary. The back and fides are of a dirty white colour. The 

 breaft, belly, and infide of the thighs, are of a ihining white. 

 The females are honilefs and timid : If attacked by wolves 

 or dogs, the males place the females in the centre, and defend 

 them ftoutly. They bleat like fheep. Their common pace 

 is a trot ; when they go fafter, it is by leaps, and they are 

 fwifter than roe-bucks. When they fee* • ■•) l* ft U P tlie 

 upper mandible, and go backward ; Pennant's Synopf. of quad. 



si- 



