I'flE ANTELOPE. 



Mr. Cumming pursuing a herd of Blesboks. 



The Blesbok, or Pied Antelope, is found in South Africa. It is about three feet high, and long in 

 proportion, with long, narrow head, and broad muzzle. Its horns are twelve to fifteen inches in length. 

 It is gregarious. Mr. Cumming describes herds, utterly innumerable, passing by him over an extended 

 plain for hours together, and covering the ground as far as the eye could reach. Our engraving above 

 represents him pursuing a small herd of them. 



The Oryx, also a South African animal, is well known among hunters as the only Antelope that revenges 

 itself on the lion. When the lion springs on it, it lowers its sharp horns, receiving the lion on their points. 

 It invariably perishes by the shock, but the lion also perishes with it. Their skeletons have been seen 

 lying together bleached upon the plain. 



" The Oryx, or Gemsbok," says Mr. Cumming, "to which I was now about to attract my attention more 

 particularly, is about the most beautiful and remarkable of all the Antelope tribe. It is the animal which 

 is supposed to have given rise to the fable of the unicorn, from its long straight horns, when seen in profile, 

 so exactly covering one another as to give it the appearance of having but one. It posseses the erect 

 mane, long sweeping black tail, and general appearance of the horse, with the head and hoofs of an 

 Antelope. It is robust in its form, squarely and compactly built, and very noble in its bearing. Its height 



is about that of an ass, and in 



color it slightly resembles that 



animal. The beautiful black 



bands which so eccentrically 



adorn its head, giving it the 



appearance of wearing a stall 



collar, together with the man- 

 ner in which the rump and 



thighs are painted, impart to 



it a character peculiar to itself. 



The adult male measures three 



feet ten inches in height at 



the shoulder." 



Blesbok. 



(129) 



Gempbok 



