30 THE BREEDING OF ORYX GAZELLA AT GOOILUST. 



The horns became visible when the calf was three days old. 

 Perhaps they were visible from the first, but as during the first 

 two days I could not get near enough I cannot be positive about 

 this. 



At the age of six days, under certain lights, the black mark on 

 the upper part of the fore legs of the adults became visible like a 

 dark shadow, especially on the inner side of the leg. 



At six weeks old some of the face-markings of the adults 

 became slightly visible, and both the dark markings above the 

 knee and hocks. Horns 4 inches long. 



The calf did not follow the mother, as I have foand so many of 

 the larger antelopes do, but it kept itself hidden in a long tuft 

 of grass as a fawn would do. From time to time the mother 

 would come to it to give it milk, or if something came near that 

 would frighten it, the calf would keep still until it was quite near, 

 and then would make a sudden rush in the direction of its dam. 

 When the object of its fright was gone, it would again hide, 

 generally in the same tuft of long gi'ass. Unfortunately, I have 

 not been able to rear the calf to maturity. 



In the second half of July the weather, which had been warm 

 and dry, suddenly changed, getting cold and very wet. Of course, 

 everything was tried to induce the animals to enter into their 

 house, but it was several days before we succeeded. When at last 

 it was accomplished, the old female was sufiering from a slight 

 diarrhoea, and after a couple of weeks it died. An attempt was 

 made to rear the calf on cow's milk, but this was not a success, 

 and on the 4th of August it died unfortunately. Although the 

 immediate cause of death seemed to be the chill occasioned by the 

 bad weather, I suspect the female with the abnormal horns, which 

 got ill first, to have contaminated the herd, as after a while she, 

 although not having been exposed to the bad weather, developed 

 similar symptoms and died, and the same happened to the bull. 



It was not possible to get a photo of the calf with its mother, 

 as she would always put herself between the calf and the 

 photographer. 



It is, I suppose, unnecessary for me to say that Oryx gazella is 

 one of the most beautiful antelopes in existence, and that every 

 effort should be made to prevent this splendid animal being 

 exterminated in its native country. In German South- West 

 Africa these antelopes were preserved in large extents of country. 

 I trust that under new rule the same excellent measures will 

 continue. 



These Antelopes are, I believe, still fairly numerous in some 

 parts of the Kalahari, but I have not been able to ascertain 

 that they are protected there. Measures in that direction would 

 certainly be veiy welcome to all lovers of the splendid South 

 African fauna. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE L 

 Oryx gazella. Young calf and aduH female with abnormal liorns. ' 



