28o 



RECORDS OF BIG GAME 



Skull of Male Nilgai. 

 NILGAI (Boselaphus tragocamelus). 



This somewhat ungainly and decidedly small-horned antelope is 

 the single Oriental representative of an important group whose other 

 members are African. Most are of large size, and, with the exception 

 of the elands, lack horns in the females. In the males the horns are 

 angulated in front and generally spirally twisted, but in no case ridged. 

 There are small face-glands, the muzzle is naked, and the tail is long 

 and tufted. Except in the nilgai, the cheek-teeth have short and 

 broad crowns. 



From the other members of the group the nilgai is readily 

 distinguished by its short, upright horns, which, although angulated in 

 front, show no distinct spiral twist. With a long and pointed head, 

 this antelope has the fore-legs considerably longer than the hinder 

 pair ; and it is chiefly to this peculiarity that its ungainly appearance 

 is due. Both sexes have a mane on the neck, but the bulls alone 

 possess a tuft of long hair on the middle of the throat. The general 

 colour of the adult bull is dark gray, tinged with blue or brown ; but 

 the mane and tufts of long hair are black, and streaks and patches on 

 the face, ears, and throat, as well as the under parts, the lower surface 



