224 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
Photo by Percy Ashenden| = z zi an [Cape Town 
MALE SPRINGBUCK 
Once the most numerous species in South Africa, where it is still not uncommon. Its migrations, or ‘treks, 
of the sights of the veldt 
” 
at certain seasons were one 
males and females are horned. With the single exception of the BEATRIX ORYxX, which 
inhabits Arabia, all these antelopes are denizens of Africa. One species of the group, the 
BLUEBUCK, which appears to have been entirely confined to the mountainous districts of the 
Cape Peninsula, became extinct during the first decade of the last century. Little is known 
as to the life history of this animal, but it was undoubtedly nearly allied to the larger and 
more handsomely marked ROAN ANTELOPE, This latter animal once had a more extensive 
range than any other antelope, as it was found in almost every part of Africa south of 
the Sahara, with the exception of the Congo forest region. It has now been exterminated 
in the more southerly portions of the country, but from the Limpopo to the Upper Nile, 
and thence to the Niger, it is still to be found wherever the surroundings are suitable to its 
requirements. 
A large bull roan antelope will stand 4 feet 9 inches at the withers. The general colour 
of the body differs in individuals, even in the same district, varying from a very light shade 
of brown to dark grey or red-roan. The front and sides of the face are jet-black in the adult 
male, and dark reddish brown in the female, with two long white tufts of hair under the 
eyes. The muzzle and extremity of the lower jaw are white. The hair on the under side of 
the neck is long and coarse, and a stiff mane about 3 inches in length runs from behind 
the ears to the withers. The ears are very long, and in the females and young males 
tufted. The horns are curved backwards, and in the male are very stout and strong, attaining 
