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resembling the Gazelles, to which they are unquestionably closely allied. When we 
were in the Samhar country in July and August, the Oryx drank apparently every day, 
always coming to the water about one or two o’clock. It is probable that they drink 
less regularly in cold weather. 
“The appearance of a herd of Oryx is very imposing. They are some of the most 
elegant and symmetrical of animals, their motions being those of a wild horse rather 
than of an Antelope. Their favourite pace appears to be either a steady quick walk or 
a trot; they rarely break into a gallop unless greatly alarmed. When frightened, they 
dash off, sometimes snorting and putting their heads down as if charging, raising their 
long tails, and looking very formidable. They are wary animals, though far less so than 
some other Antelopes. 
“ Like the Gazelles and true Antelopes, all equally inhabitants of deserts and open 
plains, the Oryx has a pointed foot, each of the divisions being rudely triangular. Its 
tracks may consequently be instantly distinguished from those of cattle or of any of the 
bovine Antelopes. So far as my acquaintance with the family goes, most of the forest 
and bush-hunting Antelopes—Koodoo, Nylgai, Tetraceros—have their feet formed like 
those of the Cervide, with rounded hoofs, whilst the Antelopes of the plain, and 
especially desert forms, have pointed hoofs.” 
Heuglin met with this Antelope further south on the Danakil coast of the 
Red Sea, and also in Northern Somaliland, where he states that it resorts to 
the more open sandy districts beset with low bushes (Salvadora), occasionally 
retreating into the lower hills. 
But in Somaliland we have excellent accounts of its habits and distribution 
from modern observers—of whom we will first quote Captain Swayne, the 
leading authority on the game-animals of that country. 
Writing of the Antelopes in his ‘Seventeen Trips through Somaliland,’ 
Col. Swayne sums up his great experience of the Beisa as follows :— 
“The Oryx of Somaliland is a very stoutly-built, bovine Antelope, standing as high 
as a donkey, and inhabits open stony ground, or barren hills, or open grass plains. 
It is fairly common and very widely distributed over the Somali country, and it may 
be found in all kinds of country except in the thick jungle with aloe undergrowth 
(which is so much liked by the Lesser Koodoo), and the cedar-forests on the higher 
ranges. The best Oryx ground is in the Haud and in Ogdédén. 
“The Oryx feeds chiefly on grass, and is often found very far from water. It has a 
keen sight, and probably protects itself more by this than by its sense of hearing or 
scent. Oryxes are found in herds of from half a dozen to thirty or forty, chiefly 
composed of cows. Bull Oryxes are found wandering singly all over the country, and 
possibly these make up in number for the preponderance of cows in the herds. 
“‘ Sometimes two or three cows with growing calves will be found together, making 
