BOVIDA ; 343 
Upper molars extremely hypsodont, very broad, and with large 
accessory columns, thus closely resembling those of the Oxen. 
Some authorities divide this section into two. In the Pliocene it 
occurs in India and Europe. 
Hippotragus..Horns stout, rising vertically from a crest over 
the orbit at an obtuse angle to the plane of the nasals, then 
recurved ; lachrymal fissure in some instances almost obliterated. 
Neck with an erect recurved mane. Tail very distinctly tufted. 
Four species, tropical Africa and south to the Cape. 
The Sable Antelope (H. niger) is one of the best-known 
examples of this genus, occurring in South and East Africa. It 
stands upwards of 44 feet in height at the withers, and, except 
for some white streaks on the face and the whole of the under 
surface of the body, is of a black colour. The, Blaubok (ZZ. leuco- 
plueus) is distinguished by the glaucous hue of the hair. The other 
species are the Equine Antelope (4. equinus) and Baker’s Antelope 
(H. bukeri) from the Sudan, both closely allied, but the latter 
distinguished by its pale fulvous colour, pencilled ears, and black 
stripes on the shoulder. 
Skulls of fossil Antelopes from the Pliocene of India have been 
referred to Hippotragus (H. sivalensis), and Sir V. Brooke suggests 
that the European Pliocene Antilope recticornis is not generically 
separable. 
Oryx.°—Horns long, slender, nearly straight or somewhat 
recurved, rising behind the orbit, and inclining backwards in the 
plane of the nasals; lachrymal fossa distinct. Nape maned; tail 
long, and more haired than in Hippotragus. Four species, ranging 
over allthe African deserts to Arabia and Syria. 
The Gemsbok (0. gazella, Fig. 141), is a South African species 
characterised by its straight horns, the presence of a tuft of 
hair on the throat, as well as by the large patches and stripes 
of black on the head, back, limbs, and flanks. It stands nearly 
4 feet in height at the shoulder, and the horns are 2 feet 9 
inches in length. The colow of the upper part of the body is 
a rusty gray, and of the under part white, while these are separ- 
ated from each other by a well-defined black band on either side. 
These bands unite on the breast, and are continued as a single 
black band until reaching the lower jaw, where they again divide 
and form two transverse bands on the head, terminating at 
the base of the horns. The head otherwise is white, as also are 
the limbs, with the exception of the thighs, which are black. 
The Gemsbok generally goes in pairs, or in small herds of three 
or four. The Beisa (0. beise) of Abyssinia is distinguished by 
the absence of the tuft of hair on the throat. Writing of this 
1 Sundevall, Kongl. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. for 1844, p. 196. 
2 De Blainville, Bud/, Soe. Philom, 1816, p. 75. 
