536 THE SASIN, OR INDIAN ANTELOPE. 



The Pallah, or Roove-bok, is also an inhabitant of Southern Africa, where it is seen 

 in large herds, almost rivalling in number those of the spring-bok. 



It is a remarkably fine animal, measuring three feet in height at the shoulder, and being- 

 gifted with elegantly shaped homs and a beautifully tinted coat. 



The general color of the Pallah is bay, fading into white on the abdomen, the lower part 

 of the tail, and peculiar disc of lighter-colored hairs which surrounds the root of the tail in so 

 many Antelopes. There is a black semilunar mark on the croup, which serves as an easy 

 method of distinguishing the Pallah from the other Antelopes. Its specific name, Melampus, 

 is of Greek origin, signifying black-footed, in allusion to the jetty hue of the back of its feet. 



The horns of this animal are of considerable length, often attaining to twenty inches, and 

 are rather irregular in their growth. They are very distinctly marked with rings, and are 

 lyrate in form, though not so decidedly as is the case with many other Antelopes. 



The food of the Pallah is very similar to that of the spring-bok, and consists chiefly of 

 tender herbage and the young twigs of the under- wood among which it generally takes up its 

 abode. 



It is hardly so timid an animal as the spring-bok, and will often allow strange creatures to 

 approach the herd without much difficulty. It has a curious habit of walking away when 

 alarmed, in the quietest and most silent manner imaginable, lifting up its feet high from the 

 ground, lest it should haply strike its foot against a dry twig and give an alarm to its hidden 

 foe. Pallahs have also a custom of walking in single file, each following the steps of its leader 

 with a blind confidence ; and when they have settled the direction in which they intend to 

 march, they adhere to their plan, and will not be turned aside even by the presence of human 

 beings. It is not so plain-loving an animal as the spring-bok, but is generally found in or near 

 the district where low brushwood prevails. 



The wide and comprehensive group of animals which includes the Antelopes is so 

 extremely large that it is impossible in a work of the present dimensions to give illustra- 

 tions even of the more important species, and we must content ourselves with but brief 

 notices in any case. v -, 



The Sasin, or Indian Antelope (Antilope bezodrtica), is generally found in herds of 

 fifty or sixty together, each herd consisting of one buck and a large harem of does. 



It is a wonderfully swift animal, and quite despises such impotent foes as dogs and men, 

 fearing only the falcon, which is trained for the purpose of overtaking and attacking them, 

 as has already been related of the gazelle. At each bound the Sasin will cover twenty-five 

 or thirty feet of ground, and will rise even ten or eleven feet from the earth, so that it can well 

 afford to despise the dogs. As its flesh is hard, dry, and tasteless, the animal is only hunted 

 by the native chiefs for the sake of the sport, and is always chased with the assistance of the 

 hawk or the chetah, the former of which creatures overtakes and delays it by continual 

 attacks, and the other overcomes by stealthily creeping within a short distance, and knocking 

 over his prey in a few rapid bounds. It is a most wary animal, not only setting sentinels to 

 keep a vigilant watch, as is the case with so many animals, but actually detaching pickets in 

 every direction to a distance of several hundred yards from the main body of the herd. 



The young Sasins are very helpless at the time of their entrance into the world, and are 

 not able to stand upon their feet for several days, during which time the mother remains in 

 the covert where her little one was born. As soon as it has attained sufficient strength, she 

 leads it to the herd, where it remains during its life, if it should happen to be a doe, but if it 

 should belong to the male sex, it is driven away from its companions by the leading buck, 

 whose jealousy will pennit no rivals in his dominions. Forced thus to live by themselves, 

 these exiles become vigilant and audacious, and endeavor to attract mates for themselves from 

 the families of other bucks. 



The homs of this animal are large in proportion to the size of their owner ; their form is 

 spiral, and they diverge considerably at their tips. From the base to the last few inches of the 

 points, the horns are covered with strongly marked rings. 



In color, the Indian Antelope is grayish-brown or black on the upper parts of the body, 



