258 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



as many as five hundred being seen in Somaliland, where this animal 

 is still common, especially in the desert Haud plateau. In a herd, as 

 might be expected, the proportion of males to females is very small. 



The chief foes of the Beisa are the Lion, which lives largely on 

 these Antelopes, and man, for they are keenly hunted by the outcast 

 tribe of Somalis called Midgans, to say nothing of European sportsmen. 



The Midgans use bows and poisoned arrows, and employ packs of 

 dogs, described as savage yellow pariahs, no doubt similar to the 

 common tan-coloured pariah of Indian towns in appearance, though of 

 higher courage. They need this to be able to attack so strong and 

 fierce an animal as this Antelope, and some of the pack are often 

 injured or killed. 



The thick skin of the male Beisa's shoulders is of value to the 

 warlike Somalis for making shields, as it is sometimes about three- 

 quarters of an inch thick, and will make a shield stout enough to 

 turn either arrow or spear. The horns are also employed for weapons, 

 and many are brought for sale at Aden. The venison is very good, 

 if the animal is in good case when killed. The Beisa is not an 

 uncommon Antelope in captivity; indeed, it is the only one of the 

 Oryxes which is often met with, and may usually be seen in the 

 London Zoological Gardens, where it has bred on more than one 

 occasion. Of the true Oryxes there are but few species, so all of 

 them may be noticed here in detail. 



THE TUFTED ORYX 



(Oryx callotis) 



This species is very similar to the Beisa, but the conspicuous tuft at 

 the end of the ears at once distinguishes it from all other Oryxes ; it 

 also differs from the Beisa in a few details of colouring, being redder 

 in general tint, with no black patch down the front of the fore-leg 

 below the knee, but with the black cheek-stripe running down from 

 the eye usually much better developed. This species replaces the true 

 Beisa in British East Africa south of the Tana River, and is also 

 found in German East Africa; its general habits seem to be very 

 similar to those of that species, but it frequents open bushy country 

 rather than bare desert plains. 



