1892.] ANTELOPES OF NORTHERN SOMALILAND. 301 



jungle till fresh tracks are found. These are followed till the game 

 is sighted. By throwing stones towards the Oryxes, whistling, and 

 other signs, which the dogs thoroughly understand, they are shown 

 the game, and settle down to their work methodically. The dogs 

 run mute, the men following at a crouching trot, which in a Somali 

 is untiring, and this lasts for a mile or two, when the dogs run into 

 their game and open in chorus round the herd of Oryxes as it stands 

 at bay. The Oryxes make repeated charges at the dogs, which are 

 often badly vvounded. The dogs generally try to pull down a calf, 

 avoiding the mother's sharp horns. Sometimes the whole herd will 

 charge the dogs together to rescue a calf. The Midgans come 

 crouching up amongst the bushes and let off a flight of poisoned 

 arrows into the mass of Oryx. On seeing the men, the herd breaks 

 up like a bursting shell. An animal wounded by one of these arrows 

 takes a line of its own, and is carefully followed till found dead, or 

 it is easily pulled down by the dogs in its weak state. 



I have often joined the Bulbar Midgans in their trips. They 

 sleep out night after night under the trees, guarded by the half- 

 tamed dogs. Their camping arrangements are primitive. They 

 shghtly roast the Oryx-meat in the fire and eat it nearly raw. If 

 one has no m.atches, one may have the pleasure of helping them light 

 a fire by rubbing two sticks together. It takes twenty minutes ; 

 special wood has to be selected. It would take Europeans a very 

 long time to get a light. 



The pariah dogs have no affection for their masters, and growl 

 and snap when approached ; but, curiously, when hunting they are 

 very obedient and obey every sign or call. 



The skin on the withers of a bull Oryx is about | inch thick. The 

 average length of horns in a good bull is 32 inches, in a cow 34 

 inches. 



Young Oryxes when caught and confined in a cage will sometimes 

 show their stubborn, wild nature by charging the bars, head down, 

 and killing themselves. A case of this occurred in Berbera. 



Oryxes are by no means fast Antelopes, and when wounded are 

 easily ridden down. 



The young calves are very like those of English cattle, but smaller, 

 with stumpy black horns a few inches long. They give out a pecuhar 

 half-bleat, half-bellow, when attacked by dogs or wounded. 



Oryxes sometimes strike sideways with their horns as we use a stick. 

 When angry an Oryx suddenly lowers his horns till they are nearly 

 parallel with the ground, and makes a dash forward with surprising 

 swiftness. 



Lions are very fond of Oryx-meat. I have often seen Oryxes in 

 company with Hartebeestes and Gazelles. Once I saw a small herd 

 with some of the Elabby-nosed Gazelles, and amongst them were two 

 Ostriches. 



2. The Kudu (Sirepsiceros kudu). 



Goclir or Gorialeh-G6dir (male) ; Ader-yu (female) ; Ader-yu 

 (collective name for herd-animals of both sexes and all ages). 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1892, No. XXI. 21 



