MAMMALS— LAW OF BATTLE. 



505 



Other; Mr. Bartlett does not know how they are used, but sug- 

 gests that they would inflict a fearful wound down each side of the 

 face of an antagonist. The slightly-curved horns of the Oryx 

 leucoryx (fig. 63) are directed backwards, and are of such length 

 that their points reach beyond the middle of the back, over which 

 they extend in almost parallel lines. Thus they seem singularly 

 ill-fitted for fighting; but Mr. Bartlett informs me that when two 

 of these animals prepare for battle, they kneel down, with their 

 heads between their fore legs, and in this attitude the horns stand 

 nearly parallel and close to the ground, with the points directed 

 forwards and a little upwards. The combatants then gradually 

 approach each other, and each endeavors to get the upturned 



Fig. 63. Oryx leucoryx, male (from the Knowsley Menagerie). 



points under the body of the other; if one succeeds in doing this, 

 he suddenly springs up, throwing up his head at the same time, 

 and can thus wound or perhaps even transfix his antagonist. Both 

 animals always kneel down, so as to guard as far as possible 

 against this maneuver. It has been recorded that one of these 

 antelopes has used his horns with effect even against a lion; yet 

 from being forced to place his head between the fore-legs in order 

 to bring the points of the horns forward, he would generally be 

 under a great disadvantage when attacked by any other animal. 

 It is, therefore, not probable that the horns have been modified 

 into their present great length and peculiar position, as a protec- 

 tion against beasts of prey. We can however see that, as soon as 

 some ancient male progenitor of the Oryx acquired moderately 

 long horns, directed a little backwards, he would be compelled, in 

 his battles with rival males, to bend his head somewhat inwards 

 or downwards, as is now done by certain stags; and it is not im- 

 probable that he might have acquired the habit of at first occa- 



