19 
pasterns just above the hoofs; a pair of prominent black tufts of longer 
hairs on the distal extremity of the hind cannon-bones (whence the name of 
the species). Tail fairly long, its upperside with a narrow black line along 
it, extending more or less on to the back, its sides fawn basally, white 
terminally. 
Skull as above described. The dimensions of a male skull are:—Basal 
length 10°3 inches, greatest breadth 4°4, muzzle to orbit 6-1. 
The horns are particularly graceful, lyrate, convex forwards below, concave 
above, evenly spreading. In length, in the south, good specimens may attain 
about 18 or 20 inches in a direct line, and in the north more, up to about 
21 or 22 inches, the largest recorded being 23. But in the intermediate 
districts, Nyasa, Zambesia, and Gazaland, they are much shorter, fully adult 
horns being often only 14 inches in length. 
Female similar to the male, but without horns. 
Hab. Southern and Eastern Africa, from Bechuanaland to Southern 
Kordofan. 
The first account of the Pallah seems to have appeared in one of the 
early numbers of a work called Daniell’s ‘Illustrations of African Animated 
Nature and Scenery,’ published in London in 1812. The author of the 
letterpress, however, did not give it a scientific name, believing that it 
might be the “‘ Kob” of Buffon, or an allied species. At about the same 
date Prof. Lichtenstein, who had met with this animal during his journeyings 
in Southern Africa from 1803 to 1806, published a description and figure of 
it in his ‘ Reise nach stidlichen Afrika’ under the name Antilope melampus. 
This description, with additional particulars, was repeated in the same 
author’s classical monograph of the genus Antilope, published in 1814, and 
his name, taken from the black tufts of short hair at the back of the hind 
legs just above the foot (which are clearly shown in our figures), has 
been employed, almost universally, for this species by subsequent writers. 
Lichtenstein met with his specimens near Klip Fontein in Namaqualand, 
where it was found to occur in small herds of five or six individuals. In 
1812 the celebrated African traveller Burchell likewise met with the Pallah 
in Bechuanaland, and secured the first specimens which arrived at the British 
Museum. 
Little more was added to our knowledge of this beautiful Antelope until 
D2 
