THE NYLGHAU. 6ll 



(the Serval) has been found dead in the bush, pierced by the horns of the 

 Bosch-bok. 



The districts from the Cape of Good Hope to Delagoa Bay and some 

 distance inland are the resorts of this antelope. Although frequently 

 passing from three to four days per week in the bush, the sportsman 

 rarely sees more than a dozen black Bosch-boks, even though their spoor 

 is imprinted on the ground in all directions, thus proving that they are 

 numerous. Seldom by fair stalking can this crafty and wary antelope 

 be slain. The Kaffirs frequently form large hunting parties, and by 

 " spooring " their tracks and surrounding the bush in which they are 

 concealed, drive them out and despatch them with assagais. This is, 

 however, but a butcherly proceeding, and one which no true sportsman 

 would follow. The Bosch-bok is so wary, so rare, and so beautiful an 

 antelope, that any man may feel delighted if he can fairly procure one or 

 two specimens during his sporting career. 



The Striped Antelope, Tragelaphus scriptus, is characterized by a 

 coat of three colors. The head is fawn-gray, the neck and back dark- 

 gray, while the flanks are reddish. The breast is dark-brown, the ridge 

 of hair along the back of the neck is nearly black, but that along the 

 spine consists of hairs with white tips. There is a white spot under the 

 eye, and another near the ear. The front of the legs from the knee to 

 the hoof is white, and the sides are marked with a moderately broad lon- 

 gitudinal stripe, and several narrow vertical ones ; these are crossed by 

 transverse stripes, and contain between them oval spots. Oval spots of 

 white are very numerous on the thigh. 



These graceful creatures are not rare in Zoological Gardens ; they 

 live on common provender, and give little trouble. 



GENUS PORTAX. 



The Nylghau, Portax pictus, is the solitary species known. It is an 

 inhabitant of the thickly wooded districts of India. It is about four feet 

 high at the shoulders, and nearly seven feet in length. In its general 

 appearance it seems like a hybrid between the deer and the ox. The 

 general color is a slaty-blue. The face is marked with brown, the long 

 neck is furnished with a bold dark mane, and a long tuft of coarse hair 

 hangs from the throat. The female is smaller than her mate, and horn- 

 less. Her coat is generally a reddish-gray, instead of partaking of the 



