The Beisa 



387 



able to exist without water for a considerable time, it" not altogether, as 

 I have shot oryx in the middle of the Haud (the great waterless plateau) 

 at its widest part, fully 70 miles from the nearest water. It appears to 

 rely mainly on its very keen sight for safety. 



Oryx are generally found in herds of from half a dozen to fifty at the 

 most, chiefly composed of cows and calves. In stalking a herd it is almost 

 impossible to distinguish the bulls from the cows ; they are exactly similar 

 in colour, though the bull has slightly thicker horns and neck. Solitary 

 bulls are found wandering alone through the country, and are generally 



igrjuhcd by Lord Dclamcrc in F.ait Africa. 



old, heavy animals. The average length of a good bull's horn is about 

 33 inches, and that of a good cow 35 inches. The best bull I ever shot 

 had horns 33-! inches, and my best cow 37 inches.' Oryx are shy, wary 

 animals, and are very hard to approach on the open plains, but when found 

 in bush, with the wind favourable, can be stalked comparatively easily. 

 The skin on the top of the shoulders is very thick, and is much prized by 

 the Somalis for making into fighting shields. They say it is tougher than 

 any other hide and will turn the sharpest spear. The rest of the skin they 



1 There is a record of a pair measuring 4.0 inches. Sec Rowland Ward's Records of Big Gam,; 1899. 



