ANTELOPES. 



3°7 



hollow internally. The colour of the upper-parts is uniform olive. The small 

 straight horns of the male rise vertically from the head and incline slightly 

 forwards at their tips ; their length averaging only about 4 inches, so that they 

 are overtopped by the large ears. The hoofs, although somewhat clumsily 

 shaped, are so small that all the four feet could easily stand upon a penny-piece. 

 The range of the klipspringer extends from the Cape through 

 Eastern Africa as far north as Abyssinia ; and in the latter country 

 these pretty little animals are found as high up as eight or nine thousand feet above 

 the sea. The small size of their hoofs enables the klipspringers to obtain foothold on 

 the smallest projections, and they are consequently enabled to bound up the sides of 

 the steepest cliffs ; needless to say, these antelopes are exclusively confined to hilly 

 districts. They were formerly abundant at the Cape, but have now become com- 

 paratively scarce. Mr. Crawshay writes that " I have never seen more than a pair 

 together, though in places where they are numerous, one occasionally sees as many 

 as three or four on the move at the same time." The flesh is tender and well- 

 flavoured. 



The Steinboks. 



Genus Xanotragws. 



Although the name steinbok is properly restricted to a single species of ante- 

 lope, it will be found convenient in zoology to apply it to all the members of a 

 small group of these animals forming the genus Xanotragus. These pretty 

 antelopes are all of small size, with short horns in the males, no tuft of hair on the 

 crown of the head, a naked muzzle, and a distinct gland below the eye, of which 

 the aperture is circular. The steinboks may be divided into three sections, 

 of which the first is represented by the true steinbok (X. campestris). This 

 antelope stands about 23 inches at the shoulder, and is usually of a reddish brown 

 colour, white below ; but while in one variety the hue of the fur tends to rufous, 

 in another it is more or less silvery. Together with the other members of the 

 section to which it belongs, the steinbok has neither lateral hoofs nor tufts of hair 

 at the knees. The horns usually attain a length of about 4 inches, but rarely 

 may be 5 ; and the tail is of moderate length, and of the same colour as the back. 

 This little antelope frequents either open country or thin forest, but avoids 

 mountainous districts, and is common throughout South and East Africa as far 

 north as the Zambesi. Although abundant, these animals are difficult to find, owing 

 to the careful manner in which they conceal themselves. On the east coast this 

 species is replaced by the larger Zanzibar steinbok {X. moschatus). The third 

 member of the section is the royal antelope (X. pygmceus) of the Guinea coast, 

 which is the smallest of all the Ruminants, standing only 12 inches at tin- shoulder. 

 It is of a bright chestnut colour, darker on the back than the Hanks, with the under- 

 parts glistening white. 



The oribi (X. scoparia), which is the species represented in our 



figure, differs from the preceding forms by the presence of lateral 



hoofs, and tufts of hair on the knees. It stands 24 inches in height, and is of a 



tawny-yellow above and white beneath, the horns being about 5 inches in length. 



