1876.] DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTH-AFRICAN MAMMALS. 289 



reaching to the shoulders ; the young are much lighter in colour, 

 whereas an old male is as black as jet. In running, the neck is 

 arched, which throws the horns forward. The Sable Antelope is 

 said to be able to defend itself from a Lion by striking sideways 

 with its powerful horns. Mr. Baines has informed me that he has 

 picked up horns covered with the hair and blood of a Lion. He 

 himself saw a dog pierced through from chest to flank by an old male 

 of this species that was wounded near his waggons. 



23. Oryx capensis. (The Gemsbock.) 



At one time common in Cape colony, Gordon Camming having 

 killed it not far from Colesberg, the Oryx or Gemsbock is now, I 

 believe, restricted in that district to a locality not far from Cape 

 L'Agulhaz, where a small remnant are now carefully preserved. It 

 seems never at any time to have spread far to the east, at least not 

 to the Zulu and Amaswazi country, according to the testimony of 

 hunters there; nor does it seem to be common in, if even an inhabi- 

 tant of, the Transvaal. To the west of that country, however, it is 

 common, being found through Secheli's and Sicomo's territories. 

 The borders of the Kalahari desert, by the Zouga up to Lake Ngami, 

 and Damara Land seem to be the stronghold of this animal. Palatzi, 

 a small water-hole in the Bamangwato district, about 27° E., was 

 the only place where I myself observed this animal ; but, being 

 disturbed by some Giraffes, I was unable to get a shot. From what 

 I learnt from hunters at Shoshong, however, it occurs east of this 

 again, but sparingly. A friend told me that he never observed this 

 species either going to or coming back from the Zambesi. I have 

 heard that the Matabili have no name for this animal; but the 

 Bechuana term is " Kokama." A good description of the habits 

 of the Oryx is given by Andersson in his 'Lake Ngami.' It 

 may be mentioned that both sexes have horns, these being longer in 

 the female. 



24. Bubalus caffer. (The Cape-Buffalo.) 



At one time abundant all through the Cape colonv, the Buffalo 

 now is found no nearer than the Zulu country; and even there it is 

 getting very scarce. I heard that a small herd exists in Natal, near 

 Bushman's River, where it is very strictly preserved. The largest 

 herd we met with consisted of at least two hundred individuals of 

 both sexes. The value of their hide has led to their gradual exter- 

 mination in the more accessible parts, and even far in the Matabili 

 country there were hunters killing them for this only. One man, we 

 heard, had got upwards of a hundred in a month ; surely no animal 

 can long withstand such slaughter. 



On approaching a herd the noise made by the animals rubbing 

 their horns against the trees is very audible, as well as a rumbling 

 sound. There is little danger in attacking a herd, as on the first shot 

 there is a general stampede; but a wounded animal and a solitary old 

 bull are very dangerous ; often a solitary animal will charge down 

 in the direction of the smoke of a shot, or after running a certain 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 18/6, No. XIX. 19 



