90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII. 
Until I had seen a considerable number, I was always unable to distinguish 
between the sexes, the horns of the does being quite as long as those of the 
bucks, and I consequently, shot some females, If one can, however, get to within 
100 yards of a herd, which, by the bye, it is extremely difficult to do, 
the heavier head and shoulders of the male enable one to pick him out 
from among the females. The general appearance of this antelope is at first 
sight somewhat disappointing ; his extremely heavy shoulders and high withers, 
his broad muzzle, his manner of carrying his head low, the muzzle pointed 
almost straight downwards when galloping, and his heavy lumbering action, take 
away considerably from his game-like appearance. I exhibit a photograph which 
gives a very fair idea of his appearance. Oryx are to be found in large herds ; 
on several occasions I saw herds of between 20 or 30, and on one occasion 
counted no less than 52 animals in one herd, This large herd was grazing in a 
vast open plain. As far as the eye could reach, there was not a sign of a shrub or 
bush of any kind—nothing but a sea of yellow grass. The oryx were extremely 
wild, and there being absolutely no cover, it was impossible to get anywhere within 
shot of them. I was greatly struck with the precision of the movements of this 
large herd. Among bushes a herd of oryx, when disturbed, gallops away in a 
dense throng, without any order or attempt to keep in line. On this open 
plain, however, the herd grazed along, keeping an excellent line, the animals 
all walking side by side; when disturbed, they galloped away, keeping 
the same correct line, They wheeled to the right and left, with almost military 
precision, and also, when turning to the right or left, travelled along in single file, 
one behind the other, in perfect order. As a general rule, the horns of the females 
are apt to be somewhat longer than those of the males, but less thick ; this will 
be seen from the following measurements, which are those of some of the horns 
in My possession :— 
: Circumference 
"1 F Circumf : 
Length from base to tip. oat a pace 12 eae oboe 
ar eeal 84 (right) and 31} (eft). 61 41 
& )s 314 64 4 
S38 514 6 34 
4 pe 63 43 
# (1 331 BL 33 
3 3 3 i 
oS 1 
ie 8 3g 
a es ES a a | ee 
The two oldest males which I shot are those shown above as Nos. 1 and 4. 
The horns of No. 4, though heavy and massive, are much blunted and worn 
