AND DESERTS 129 



very arid country, and appear capable of going for long 

 periods without tastmg water. The horns are very 

 powerful, and the gemsbok is stated to be able to beat 

 off the lion by means of them, but not to be swift, 

 perhaps because it had few enemies till man appeared 

 on the scene. In addition to the gemsbok, other 

 species of the genus Oryx occur in different parts of 

 Africa, aU being inhabitants of open country. 



The gazeUe group, largely represented in the more 

 arid regions of Asia, North Africa, &c., has a South 

 African member in the springbok, once enormously 

 numerous on the margin of the Kalahari desert. Other 

 African species also occur. An aUied form of interest- 

 ing habits is Waller's gazelle {Lithocranius walleri) from 

 East Africa, which inhabits rocky districts, where 

 thorn-jungle occurs, and has a remarkably long neck, 

 giving it a resemblance to a miniature giraffe. It feeds 

 chiefly upon twigs and leaves, and is stated to rest its 

 forefeet against the trees, in order to reach the foliage. 



Among other forms we may notice the pala antelope 

 {Aepyceros melampus), found among the acacia scrub 

 of Southern and South-Eastem Africa, and remarkable 

 for its great swiftness, and for its power of taking long 

 leaps. It prefers the proximity of water. In swampy 

 regions where reeds are plentiful the reitbok and water- 

 buck antelopes occur, the latter seeking the water or 

 swamps when pursued. On the other hand, hiUy and 

 mountainous districts are inhabited by the active 

 rhebok, which resembles a chamois. Of the Mttle klip- 

 springer we have already spoken (p. 84) . The steinboks, 

 also small animals, occur in open coimtry or savana 

 wood, but avoid hill y country. They are remarkable 

 for their speed and their close resemblance in colour to 

 the ground. 



1404 I 



