300 CAPT. H. G. C. SWAYNE ON THE [May 3, 



1. Field-Notes on tlie Antelopes of Northern Somaliland. 

 By H. G. C. SwAYNE, Capt. R.E., C.M.Z.S.i 



[Eeceived April 6, 1892.] 



1. The Oryx {Oryx beisa). 



Baet (pronounced Beyt). 



The Oryx inhabits open stonj' ground, or barren hills, or open 

 grass plains. 



It is very widely distributed over the Somali Country and not at 

 all uncommon, and it may be found in all kinds of country except 

 in the thick jungles with aloe undergrowth so much liked by the 

 Lesser Kudu, and in the cedar forests on the higher ranges. 



The Oryx feeds chiefly on grass, and is often found very far from 

 water. It has keen sight, and protects itself more by this than by 

 its sense of hearing or smell. 



Oryx are found in herds of moderate size, chiefly composed of 

 cows. The herds number from half a dozen to thirty or forty. 



The only Antelopes which go in very large herds in Northern 

 Somahland are the Hartebeeste and Soeramerring's Gazelle. 



Numbers of bull Oryxes are found scattered singly all about the 

 country, and possibly these make up in number for the prepon- 

 derance of cows in the herds. 



Single Oryxes are almost always bulls. Often two or three cows 

 with growing calves will be found together, making up a small herd 

 of half a dozen. 



It is nearly impossible to distinguish which are the bulls in a herd, 

 and they are so few in proportion to the cows that it is best not to 

 fire at a herd at all. The bull is slightly higher in the withers 

 than the cow, and the horns, though an inch or two shorter in the 

 bull, are more massive, especially about the burr at the base, and 

 they are more symmetrical. The cows' horns are often bent or 

 of unequal length. 



The Oryx is often revengeful when wounded and brought to bay. 

 Twice I have seen a wounded Oryx make a determined charge into 

 a mob of Somalis armed with spears. 



The Midgans, who are the outcast race, and are armed with bows 

 and poisoned arrows, hunt the Oryx with packs of savage yellow 

 pariah dogs; the thick skin round the withers of a bull Oryx is 

 made by them into a white " gashan " or shield 18 inches in diameter. 



The hunting as carried out by the Midgans in the Bulbar Plain is 

 as follows t — Three or four Midgans with about fifteen dogs go out 

 just before dawn, and walk along silently through the scattered thorn- 



^ [Capt. Swayne has now kindly sent me the promised field-notes on the 

 Antelopes of Somaliland of which I have lately given an account to the 

 Society, mainly based upon his valuable specimens (see P. Z. S. 1892, pp. 98, 

 117). The first set of all the specimens sent to me by Capt. Swayne has been 

 presented in Ms name to the British Museum, and the duplicates to the U.S. 

 National Museum at Washington. I have added," at Captain Swayne's request, 

 the scientific names and some references to these Notes.— P. L. S.j 



