INDIAN ANTELOPE. 307 



female is light brown. The horns are about 1 foot in 

 length, ringed and beautifully twisted. We have seen a 

 very fine specimen which measured 25|- inches in length. 

 Some of the skins imported are used for tanning ; a few 

 are dressed and sometimes used by furriers. 



The Indian Antelope is often hunted in India by 

 Cheetahs ; both male and female are hunted, and the 

 flesh is good eating. It is the regimental crest of the 

 6th Eoyal Warwickshire Eegiment, and is sometimes 

 called the Black Buck. 



BLESS-BOK. 

 Alcelaphus albifrona. 



This rather large Antelope was once much more 

 numerous than it is at the present day, and it is said to 

 be now extinct in Cape Colony. Its habitat is South 

 Africa. A comparatively small number of skins are 

 now imported ; in fact, this skin has almost ceased to 

 be an article of commerce. The colour is dark pink on 

 the back, merging into a drab-brown, and the belly is 

 lighter. 



The Bonte-bok has often been described under this 

 name. 



The skins of the Bless-bok make excellent leather, 

 and at one time were chiefly bought by skin-merchants, 

 but they are now in the hands of hide and leather brokers. 



In 1873, 12,000 skins were sold in London, and 3,915 

 in 1886. These fetch about the following prices : — 



Large skins, 50 to 65 lbs. per doz., 9d. to lid. per lb. 

 Middling „ 33 to 43 „ ,, 8d. to 9d. 



Dry damaged 23 to 30 ,, „ 6d. to 7d. 



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