810 MR, A, B, PEASE ON THE [Nov. 17, 
bear this in mind in making enquiries. The Arabs, however, use 
the word “ Mecha” exclusively for the Addax, though probably the 
general run of natives are unacquainted with this name. 
The Addax (Addax saso-maculatus), called by the French 
* Antilope du Sud,” by the Arabs “ Begra el Ouash” or “ Mecha,” 
and by the Touaregs “ Zamita” (or T’ameeta), has been so often 
described that I will not attempt any description of it myself, but 
simply give such information as to its habitat and habits as I have 
been able to gather whilst travelling in the Sahara and residing at 
Biskra. 
I do not know of any good complete specimen in any museum, 
nor have I been able to obtain one myself, though, along with 
Sir Edmund Loder, I made one good bid to reach the confines of 
those countries where it is to be found in great numbers. In 
February 1895, furnished with all the information I could obtain 
from M. Foureau and natives familiar with the Erg, we started from 
Biskra to reach the country between El Oued Souf and Rhadamis. 
Afier a week’s journey across the desert by way of the great Chotts 
we reached the Oued Souf. At El Oued, the last outpost of the 
French in the direction of Rhadamis, we were stopped till Capi- 
taine de Prandicre obtained instructions from the General of 
Division permitting us to goon. After a detention, made pleasant 
by the great kindness and hospitality of the three French officers 
in command of ihe native garrison, we had the disappointment of 
being told that we could not be allowed to proceed southwards. 
At the time we thought this very hard, for though we were aware 
that the Touaregs had lately raided the Chambas as near as Mey, 
we felt that a flying visit to the country east of Bir Beresof would 
be without danger, as we could be in and out again before our 
presence was discovered. But a few months later M. Foureau 
and a strong force were driven back from the south, though he 
had reached a point far beyond our proposed destination, and I 
think our hosts were entirely justified in their refusal. Our plan 
had been to reach Bir Beresof, and then to strike east for Bir Aoueen, 
where we should in all probability have come up with the Addax, 
which visits this district in large quantities in favourable years. 
The Addax country is the Erg, the great region of sand-dunes 
covered more or less thickly with vegetation according to situation 
and rains, This sand-dune country covers hundreds—it may be 
said thousands—of miles and the Addax follows the rains. In 
certain districts it is not uncommon for rain not to fall for several 
years in succession, In one year the Addax are only found far 
south of Rhadamis and Ain Taiba (S. of Ouargla), in other years 
they follow the rain as far north as the southern borders of the 
Chott Djereed in the east and the neighbourhood of Ain Taiba in 
the west. Without the help of the French and a good escort of 
Chambas it would be vain to attempt to reach the Rhadamis 
country by way of Bir Beresof; and the wells being sometimes 
nine days apart, it is a difficult route to follow. 
I heard when at Touzer that a M. Cornex had obtained a 
