252 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



of Palestine, and they frequent dry open country in herds, and have 

 great speed. Their venison is usually very good. 



THE SASSABY 



(Damaltscus lunatus) 



The Sassaby represents a group known as Bastard Hartebeests, which 

 show the peculiarities of those animals in a slightly less marked form, 

 the face being shorter and the horns less angulated. In colour it 

 resembles some of the typical Hartebeests, being a rich red-brown, 

 with a purple gloss ; its horns are rather over a foot long, and present 

 in both sexes, as in all this group. It is a South African species, 

 and celebrated for its speed and endurance, although it is doubtful 

 if in these respects it much exceeds the Blue Wildebeest and one or 

 two of the true Hartebeests ; but it is at any rate so fast that hunters 

 do not like to risk injuring their Horses by hunting it to no purpose. 

 It has never been exhibited at our Zoological Gardens. 



THE BLESBOK AND BONTEBOK 



(Damdliscus albifrons and D. pygargus) 



These Antelopes, also close allies of the Hartebeests, are both South 

 African, and, being much alike, have even sometimes been confused 

 together. Both are rather above a yard at the shoulder, of a brown 

 colour, with a beautiful lilac or violet gloss in life, and with a white 

 face and more or less white legs. The Bontebok is the gayer of the 

 two, having a white patch on the stern and the legs all white; its 

 horns also are black, those of the Blesbok being pale. 



They are both South African species, but did not occur together, 

 the Bontebok having been confined to the south of the Orange River. 

 It is now nearly extinct, being only found in a protected state on 

 one or two farms, while the Blesbok, which used to be excessively 

 abundant, is now fast approaching the condition in which it will be 

 absolutely dependent on protection for its existence as a species, 

 having been recklessly shot down by hide-hunters. Both species have 

 been exhibited in the Zoological Society's Gardens. 



