ORYX— A HERD OF 400 SEEN 



bull at the shoulder is about four feet, and its weight about 

 500 lbs. 



The average length of the horns, which are straight, 

 tapering and well-annulated, is about thirty-two inches in 

 a bull, and thirty-four in a cow, the horns of the bull being 

 shorter but more massive, especially close to the base. 



Bulls and cows are so very aUke in appearance that it 

 is very difficult to distinguish one from the other in a herd — 

 the bull is, perhaps, a little stouter and heavier about the 

 neck and withers. The oryx inhabits stony ground and 

 crrass plains, and is often found far from water. They go 

 tbout in herds of from five to fifty, but single bulls are 

 occasionally met with. 



On one occasion whilst crossing an open base, or prairie, 

 my caravan started a herd of some four hundred oryx, 

 which galloped past us, having all the appearance of a 

 squadron of cavalry. Firing at the galloping line, I 

 rolled over a fine buck. Being very keen of sight, and 

 living mostly in the open, oryx are difficult to stalk. When 

 wounded and brought to bay they not infrequently charge. 



I once saw a wounded oryx make a most determined 

 harge at one of my men who was trying to spear him as he 

 stood at bay in some thick bushes. 



On another occasion I was galloping after an oryx cow, 

 which I had slightly wounded, when she turned suddenly 

 and charged with her head down, upsetting my horse and 

 <;iving me a nasty fall. The Bushmen, or Midgaons, who 

 .ire armed with bows and poisoned arrows, hunt the oryx 

 with dogs. The skin of these animals is very thick, 

 (■specially about the neck and withers, and is much sought 

 after by the Somalis for making shields, etc. 



The hartebeest. There are several species of this 

 animal, chiefly distinguishable from each other by their 

 horns, which vary greatly in shape and size. The horns of 

 the Abyssinian and Somali Imrtebeest have a wider spread 

 tlum those of the South African varieties, which are closer 

 together and more upright and massive at the base. 



The height of the Somali beast is about forty-seven 

 iiurhes at the shoulder, and weight about 400 lbs. 

 In colour it is chestnut, deepening to black about the 

 shoulders and upper part of the forel^^ ; also the face, 



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