SPECIES OF ANTELOPE. 95 
two feet six inches ; and their distance at the points, 
one foot ten inches and a half. In its general form 
and proportions, it more nearly resembles the A. 
Leucophea, and A, Hquina, of modern naturalists, 
than any other species of ruminant; but it is readily 
distinguished from those animals, by the curvature of 
the horns bending regularly forwards instead of back- 
wards ; by the hair along the spine and back of the 
neck being reversed, or running in a contrary direc- 
tion to that of the other part of the body; but above 
all, by the singular and regular ellipse of milk-white 
hair which passes over the croup, down the posterior 
face of the hips, and between the thighs, having the 
tail in its superior focus, vividly contrasting with the 
dark vinous-brown colour of the surrounding parts. 
This singular mark, which has never been observed 
in any other animal, has suggested the specific name 
of Ellipsiprymnus, which, from possessing a cha- 
racter altogether peculiar to this new and undescribed 
animal, readily distinguishes it from all other species 
by which it might by possibility be confounded. 
I was informed by a gentleman residing in the 
Colony, that a horn of this animal had once been 
brought into Cape Town during the time of the 
Dutch government, who, ever eager to enrich their 
museums at home, offered a large reward for a speci- 
men of the animal to which it belonged, but from that 
time nothing further had been heard of the animal, 
until I brought the present specimen from the 
