102 



THE TWO-TOED ARTIODACTYLA. 



size of a stag, is distinguished by its longish 

 head and its short stout horns, which meet 

 at the base, are markedly ringed and curved 

 in the form of a lyre. Recently naturalists 

 have distinguished several species which 

 approach very close to the hartebeest, and are, 

 perhaps, only local varieties. The species 

 shown in fig. 178 is cinnamon-brown, the 

 forehead, the front of the legs, and the bushy 



tail are black, narrow rings round the eyes, 

 the inner side of the thighs and the speculum 

 are white. The hartebeest was formerly very 

 abundant near the Cape, but has been almost 

 extirpated there by the ceaseless persecution 

 to which it has been exposed on the part of 

 hunters. It is still found in Inner Africa, in 

 the land of the Bogos and the Niam-niam, 

 and is generally to be seen on the banks of 



Fig. 179. — The Indian Antelope [Antilope cervicafra). 



rivers in herds of about twenty individuals. 

 It is a rather quarrelsome animal, but may- to 

 a certain extent be tamed, though it some- 

 times becomes dangerous. 



We have reserved till now a singular ante- 

 lope belonging to India, and known as the 

 Indian Antelope, though called by the Hindus 

 themselves the Sassi {Antilope cervicapra), 

 fig. 1 79. Its long, ringed and spirally twisted, 

 but straight horns remind us of the addax, 

 but in other respects it has rather the appear- 

 ance of a gazelle. The animal is reverenced 

 by the Hindus, who have placed it in the 

 zodiac in place of the ibex (Capricorn), and 

 regard it as sacred to Chandra, the goddess 

 of the moon. The male, which alone is 

 horned, is of a dark grayish-brown colour, 



the female lighter; the belly, the inner side 

 of the legs, the speculum, the lips, the ears, 

 and the rings round the eyes are white. 

 The legs are thin, the tail short and provided 

 with a terminal tuft, and tufts of hair adorn 

 the knees. The tear-pits and inguinal glands 

 are remarkably large, and filled with an oily 

 ill-smelling secretion. The animal lives in 

 open woods and groves in pretty numerous 

 troops led by an old male. The great nobles 

 of Bengal hunt it with falcons or grey- 

 hounds. 



The Gnus (Catoblepas (Connochsetes) ) pre- 

 sent a union of rather singular characters, 

 which may always be observed in our mena- 

 geries and zoological gardens. Two species 

 are known, both natives of the Cape; of 



