BONTEBOK 



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Head of Bontebok. 



BONTEBOK (Damaliscus pygargiis). 



Distinguished from tlie preceding species of the genus by the white 

 blaze on the face, which is continuous from the horns to tlie nose. 

 Height at shoulder about 40 inches. Weight about 200 lbs. Colour 

 of fore part of back rufous fawn darkening into blackish on the rump, 

 flanks, shoulders, front of limbs, and tail-tuft ; rump, upper half of 

 tail, under parts, and much of hinder surface of limbs white. 



The curious pied marking of the bontebok, its snow-white face, 

 belly, legs, and rump, and the glaze-like, purplish-lilac gloss of the 

 upper part of the coat — which may be described as chestnut upon the 

 neck and warm purplish-brown upon the bod}- — are very remarkable. 

 The horns very nearly resemble those of the blesbok in shape, but the 

 colour is much darker. The blesbok and bontebok formerly gave 

 great sport to the Boers and European hunters. Both of these 

 blaze-faced antelopes run steadily up-wind, " carrying their broad white 

 noses close to the ground like a pack of harriers in full cr}-." 

 Distribution. — Cape Colon}-, south of the \^ial River ; now nearly ex- 

 terminated. Although formerly abounding in tens of thousands 

 on the Karoos of Cape Colony and the plains of the Orange Free 

 State, bontebok are now reduced to a single herd carefully preserved 

 on some flats on the estate of Mr. Vander-B}-1, near Swellendam, 

 in the south of Cape Colony. 



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