THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 193 
numerous enemies to whose attacks they are exposed, 
and of the unequalled fleetness of their speed. In some 
this latter quality consists of a continued and uniform 
gallop, which in others is interrupted at every third or 
fourth stroke by a long and generally a lofty bound, 
producing a beautiful effect by its constant and rapid 
recurrence. 
The Indian Antelope, of which the specimen in the 
Tower constitutes a remarkable and highly interesting 
variety, is not only one of the most beautiful, but also 
the most celebrated species of the group. It occupies 
the place of Capricorn in the Indian Zodiac, and is con- 
secrated to the service of Chandra or the Moon. In size 
and form it closely resembles the Gazelle of the Arabs, 
the well known emblem of maiden beauty, typified, 
according to the poets, in the elastic lightness of its 
bound, the graceful symmetry of its figure, and the soft 
lustre of its full and hazel eye. From this truly elegant 
creature our, Antelope is, however, essentially distin- 
guished by several striking characters. Its horns, which 
are peculiar to the male, are spirally twisted, and form, 
when fully grown, three complete turns; they are closely 
approximated to each other at the base, but diverge 
considerably as they proceed upwards. They occa- 
sionally attain a length of nearly two feet, and are 
surrounded throughout by elevated and close-set rings. 
The two horns taken together have frequently been 
compared to the branches of a double lyre. The extre- 
mity of the nose is bare, forming a small and moist 
muzzle; the sub-orbital openings are larger and more 
distinct than in almost any other species; and the ears 
are pointed and of moderate size. The natural colours 
OQ 
