THE BREEDING OF OBYX GAZELLA AT GOOILUST. 29 



5. On the Breeding of Oryx gazella at Gooilnst. 

 Bj F, E. Blaauw, C.M.Z.S. 



[Received February 20, 1919 : Read March 18, 1919.] 



(Plate I .*) 



This species of Antelope is a scarce animal in Zoological 

 Collections in Europe, and tliei-efore some details about its 

 breeding may be of general interest. 



I got my pair in the summer of 1913, and although the im- 

 porter was very mysterious about its origin, it soon became 

 evident that the animals originated from the Kalahari, and had 

 reached me via the Zoological Garden of Pretoria, where they 

 had been kept some time. 



Daring a trip to South Africa in the spring of 1914 I saw 

 photos of animals of this species shot in German South- West 

 Africa, and a settler from that country told me that Oryx gazella 

 was fairly numerous in the southern parts of that colony to his 

 own knowledge. 



The pair of animals at Gooilust did extremely well, and I soon 

 was able to let them out together in an enclosed field. Although 

 they fought at fii-st — and these fights looked rather formidable 

 on account of the tremendously long and needle-sharp horns — I 

 soon found that the fighting was more play than anything more 

 serious, and so I could enjoy the sight of it without much 

 apprehension. 



The animals, although in perfect health, did not breed at first, 

 and therefore, having the chance of obtaining another female in 

 tlie spring of 1916, I acquired it. This female, although well 

 built in other respects, had deformed horns, which were rounded 

 as in Oryx algazel, so that I could not admire her very much. 

 HoAvever, I put all three animals in the field, and during the 

 course of the summer both females were covered by the male 

 and became pregnant. In the spring of 1917 the female with 

 the defonned horns, which had been looking in bad health for 

 some time, gave birth to a dead calf which was nearly fully 

 developed ; and as she did not seem to recover entirely, I later on 

 separated her from the others for fear of contagion. 



On the 2nd of June of the same year my old female gave birth 

 to a splendid calf, which appeared quite strong and well. 

 This calf maj^ be described as follows : — 



General colour a rufous sand-colour. A black tip to the tail. 

 A dark streak from the eyes downwards, losing itself before 

 reaching the bottom of the jaw. There is a black tip to the 

 mane. The swelling which the adults have under the throat is 

 very conspicuous in the newly-born calf, and the hair there is 

 lengthened, forming a throat-mane. Inside of ears full of long 

 hairs, forming a fringe which projects out of the ear-shell. On 

 the outside margin of the ear a veiy thin black edge. 



* Vox explanation of the Phxte sec p. 30. 



