
; 
The Roe Deer (Cafreolus caprea, Plate XXI. 
fig. b. c) is a beautiful animal, with very expressive 
eyes. It has very small tear-channels, and the horns 
of the buck are short and forked. It stands rather 
more than two feet high at the shoulder. The thick 
smooth hair is short in summer, and of a dark rusty- 
red colour on the back and sides; but in winter it 
is long and brownish grey. The Roe Deer lives in 
smaller herds than the other deer, and generally in 
families, which are headed, and when needful, de- 
fended, by the Id Roebuck. The flesh, the skin 
and the horns are used in various ways. 
; Family Gliraffide. (Giraffes.) 
(Plate XXII.) 
There is only one species of this family, the 
Giraffe (Cameleopardalis Giraffa, Plate XXII. fig. a). It 
is the tallest of all existing Mammalia, sometimes 
measuring nearly twenty feet in height. This is due 
to the unusual length of its neck and legs, for its 
body, though stout, is not long in proportion, and 
slopes from 
front to 
back. The 
head is long 
and _ finely 
shaped, 
somewhat 
resembling 
that of a 
horse, and 
the eyes are 
large and .» 
expressive. 
The — fore- 
head is a- 
dorned with 
two pro- 
tuberances, 
overgrown 
with — skin. ie 
This harm- 
less and ti- 
mid animal 
inhabits 
Central and 
Southern 
Africa 
in larger or 
smaller 
herds, and 
feeds onthe 
leaves of the Mimosa and othe: trees. It has a peculiar 
shuffling gait, but canrun with great speed when alarmed. 






fh i Hs My \e 
LN 
WW > 
TAGE 1} 
A} hair Ag 
Dh >) i). 
Family Bovide. 
The large family Loved includes several distinct 
groups, such as the Antelopes, Oxen, Goats and 
Sheep, which it will be best to treat separately. 
Antelopes. 
(Plates XXI. XXII.) 
The Antelopes are active and elegant animals, 
which feed on grass, leaves, buds &c. They are 
most numerous in Africa, but several species inhabit 
different parts of Europe and Asia. 
The Klippspringer (Oveotragus saltatrix, Plate 
XXI. fig. d) is found in the mountains of Southern 
and Eastern Africa. It feeds on aromatic mountain- 
herbs, like the chamois, and likewise resembles this 
animal in leaping with the greatest ease and safety 



Bison or Aurochs, 
19 
at a giddy height from rock to rock. In colour: 1! 
is not unlike the Roebuck. The hair is thick, the 
body moderately stout, the legs are short and 
strong, and the hoofs are furnished with claws be: 
hind. The buck is ornamented with short straight 
horns, which rise perpendicularly from the head. 
The Chamois (Rupicapra tragus, Plate XXII 
fig. b) is remarkable for the shape of its horns, whick 
are at first straight, and then curved backwards al 
the tips. It has some resemblance to a goat in 
general appearance, but its body is stronger and more 
compact, and the legs are longer and stronger. II 
stands about two feet high at the shoulder, and the 
bucks are rather larger than the does, and have longet 
horns. In summer the general colour is dull reddish 
brown above, and rather paler below; and in winter 
dark brown, with the head, feet and belly white. 
There is also a dark stripe on each side of the face. 
Notwithstanding the keenness of their senses, their 
great shyness and intelligence and their unparalleled 
agility in leaping and climbing, their numbers are 
becoming 
greatly  re- 
duced by 
the  perse- 
cution of 
hunters. 
The  cha- 
mois is met 
with inmost 
of the high 
mountains 
of Southern 
and Eastern 
Europe, 
where its 
pursuit can 
only be at- 
tempted 
by trained 
moun- 
taineers. 
One of the 
best known 
antelopes is 
the Gazelle 
(Gazella 
dorcas, 
Plate XXII 
fig. c) which 
- the Arabs 
regard as a 
model of natural beauty. The head is adorned with 
large languishing eyes, and lyre-shaped horns in both 
sexes. The neck is long and slender, and the 
rounded body is supported by slender sinewy legs, 
with very delicate hoofs. The reddish-yellow colour- 
ing of the upper surface is separated from the white 
undersurface by a brownish black stripe running 
along the sides of the body. The Gazelles are found 
in large herds in the deserts of Northern Africa and 
Arabia. 

Oxen. 
(Plates XXII. XXIV.) 
The Oxen have large heads and bodies, rounded, 
hollow horns, and a naked, damp muzzle. The tail 
reaches nearly to the ground and is tufted at the 
extremity. There are no tear-channels. They are 
gregarious animals, not very active or graceful in 
They feed on all sorts of plants, 

their movements. 
