146 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Antelopes. 



the animal to pass more easily over the fine and 

 loose sands of the deserts in which it resides. 



650. — The Blauwbok. 

 (Antilope leucophcea). This antelope is a native of 

 South Africa, and was formerly common within the 

 boundaries of the Cape Colony, where it is now 

 never seen. It occurs in the extensive open plains 

 north of the Gariep, living in pairs or small families 

 of five or six. It is a bold and fierce animal, and 

 when wounded will turn upon the hunter with great 

 resolution. At certain seasons it is reported to at- 

 tack indiscriminately every animal that approaches 

 near it. The blauwbok stands three feet seven inches 

 in height at the shoulder : the horns exceed two 

 feet in length, and are formidable weapons ; they 

 are round, uniformly curved backwards, and marked 

 with from twenty to thirty prominent rings; the 

 points for the extent of six inches, are smooth, 

 and terminate very acute. The term blauwbok, or 

 blue-buck, has been given to this animal by the 

 Dutch colonists from its peculiar hue, resulting from 

 the colour of the hide, which is deep black, being 

 reflected through the ashy-grey hair that covers it, 

 giving it a general dark-blue tone. 



651.— The Abu-Harb 



(Antilope leucoryx). This species is the Oryx of 

 the ancients, a term now given to an allied South 

 African species, but which of right, belongs to the 

 Abu-Harb, which lives in large herds in Sennaar 

 and Kordofan, feeding principally on the leaves ot 

 various species of acacia. It is represented in 

 abundance on the monuments of Egypt and Nubia, 

 and in particular in the inner chamber of the great 

 pyramid at Memphis, where a whole group of these 

 • antelopes are represented, some driven forward, 

 others dragged along by the horns, or by a cord 

 around their neck, apparently as trophies brought 

 from a conquered country, or a tribute or present 

 from some subjugated nation. 



This animal nearly equals the addax in size. 

 The horns are long and slender, arched gently 

 backwards, annulated at the base, and very sharp 

 at the points. The tail is long and tufted at the 

 extremity with black and grey hairs mixed together. 

 The hair on the head, body, and extremities is 

 universally short, and lies smoothly along the hide, 

 except upon the ridge of the back, where it is rather 

 longer and reversed, or turned towards the head in 

 a direction contrary to that on the other parts of 

 the body, and forming a short reversed mane from 

 the middle of the back to the occiput. The head is 

 white, with a brown mark descending perpendi- 

 cularly from each orbit, and expanding over the 

 cheek, and a similar stripe passing down the centre 

 of the face from the horns to the muzzle ; the whole 

 neck also, on the throat as well as on the upper 

 part, is of a uniform rusty-brown colour, but, with 

 these exceptions, all the rest of the body, as well as 

 the legs and tail, are milk-white. 



652.— The Oryx 



{Antilope Oryx). The oryx is a native of South 

 Africa, and differs from the Abu-Harb in having 

 the horns straight : there is a large black mark or 

 the forehead, united with a broad stripe across each 

 cheek. 



This powerful antelope is found in the karroo 

 south of the Orange river, and is resolute and dan- 

 gerous when hard pressed, using its long sharp 

 horns with amazing energy and address often 

 transfixing several of the hunter's dogs before he 

 can get within shot. The horns measure three feet 

 in length. 



653.— The Canxa 

 (Antilope Oreas). The Eland or Elk of the Dutch 

 colonists of the Cape : the Impoof of the Caffres. 



The canna is a native of Southern Africa, and 

 the largest of all the antelopes, if it can be so 

 termed, measuring full five feet in height at the 

 shoulder, and weighing from seven to nine hundred 

 weight. The horns in the male are large and 

 heavy, measuring a foot and a half in length, nearly 

 straight, sharp at their points, and surrounded 

 almost to the top with a thick prominent spiral 

 wreath. In the female the horns are smaller, and 

 often almost destitute of a w-reath. The muzzle is 

 naked; the neck is thick and compressed at the 

 sides, as in the ox, with a large protuberance on the 

 throat, and a deep-hanging dew-lap. From the 

 centre of the forehead to the tail runs a short and 

 nearly erect mane, of dark-brown hair, which is 

 reversed along the back of the neck, but directed 

 in the usual way along the dorsal spine. The 

 shoulders are very much elevated, the processes of 

 the vertebrae being greatly elongated at the withers. 

 The tail ends in a black tuft. The general colour 

 is reddish-fawn above ; white on the under parts ; 

 an ashy-grey tint generally prevails on the head and 

 neck. 



The flesh of the canna is in high estimation, con 



sequently the animal is much sought after. Unlike 

 antelopes generally, it acquires fat, and indeed 

 often becomes so loaded with it as to be incapable 

 of much exertion. It is asserted that when the 

 animal is hard run, a red oily perspiration has been 

 seen to ooze from the pores of its skin, and that it 

 will sometimes drop down from plethora. The 

 canna is mild and gentle, living in large herds 

 upon the plains and low hills, the old males gene- 

 rally residing apart : so little suspicious are "they, 

 that a horseman may ride through the very midst of 

 a herd without, causing any alarm, and in this way 

 the sportsman may easily pick out and bring down 

 with his gun the largest and the fattest. The well- 

 conditioned males are generally chosen, and to such 

 an extent have the herds been thinned of these, that 

 some have been seen without a single male among 

 them. The parts of this bovine antelope most es- 

 teemed are the large muscles of the thighs, which, 

 when cured and dried, are termed thigh-tongues, 

 from their flavour and fineness of grain. 



Calliope, Ogilby. — Horns only in the male : no 

 lachrymal sinuses nor interdigital pores ; inguinal 

 pits distinct ; muzzle naked; horns spiral; teats in 

 female four. 



654.— The Koodoo 



(Antilope Strepsiceros) . This magnificent antelope 

 is about four feet in height at the shoulder, and is 

 heavily and robustly made, more resembling in ex- 

 ternal appearance an ox than an antelope. The 

 muzzle is broad and naked ; the ears large and 

 slouching ; the limbs thick and muscular. The 

 horns of the male are about four feet in length, 

 very thick at the base, and beautifully twisted into 

 a wide sweeping spiral of two turns and a half, 

 surrounded by a prominent wreath, or rather keel, 

 which follows their flexure ; they spread boldly out- 

 wards, and the animal generally carries them thrown 

 back on the shoulders, partly for the sake of keeping 

 them from striking against branches or becoming 

 entangled in brushwood, and partly on account ot 

 their great weight. 



The koodoo is a native of South Africa, and is 

 found along the wooded borders of the rivers of 

 Caffraria, living in small families of five or six indi- 

 viduals, and feeding on the shoots and leaves oi 

 trees and bushes. Desmarest says it leads a solitary 

 life in mountain districts, but in these respects he 

 is in error ; it dwells neither on the hills nor the 

 open plains, but in the wooded tracts following the 

 course of rivers ; nor is it solitary. When chased, 

 it takes to the water, and swims vigorously; and 

 though heavy, it leaps with wonderful agility. 

 Desmarest says it takes bounds of surprising extent, 

 and it has been seen to clear the bars of a gate oi 

 the height of ten feet, though it had but a very li- 

 mited space for gaining the impetus necessary for 

 the leap. When hard pressed, the males are formid- 

 able from their immense strength and determination, 

 and from their formidable horns, which they wield 

 with great address. The koodoo, however, when 

 taken young, is easily tamed, and becomes quiet 

 and gentle. 



The general ground-colour of the koodoo on the 

 back and sides is a light fallow-brown, with a narrow 

 white ribbon along the spine, and eight or ten similai 

 bands descending from the back and passing ob- 

 liquely down the sides and hips ; the belly and 

 under parts are pale silvery brown. On the neck 

 and withers is a thin spare mane of a brown colour, 

 and the chin, throat, and breast are furnished with 

 similar long hairs, forming a species of beard. The 

 cheeks are marked with two or three round white 

 spots, and a narrow grey line passes from the an- 

 terior angle of the eye down towards the muzzle. 

 The tail is moderately long, and equally covered 

 with short hair. 



Bubalus, Ogilby. — Horns in both sexes heavy, 

 thick, and annulated, first inclined forwards, then 

 suddenly bent backwards, making a bold angle in 

 front. Lachrymal sinuses minute. Interdigital pits 

 large. Inguinal pores wanting. Muzzle half naked. 

 Teats in the female two. 



655. — The Bekr-el-Wash, or Wild Ox of 

 the Arabs 

 (Antilope Bubalus). This animal is the Bubalus ot 

 the ancients ; the " animal Afrieae proprium, vituli 

 cervive quadam similitudine " of Pliny. Its repre- 

 sentation occurs among the figures on the monu- 

 ments of Upper Egypt. This animal is spread 

 throughout a great extent of northern Africa, living 

 in numerous herds on the confines of the Tell, or 

 cultivated district, and the Sahara or Great Desert. 

 According to Captain Lyon, it is found on the moun- 

 tains south of Tripoli. Though Barbary may be 

 regarded as its real habitat, yet it is not altogether 

 limited to that extent of country, for it sometimes 

 crosses the Libyan desert, and gains the banks ol 

 the Nile ; and was once probably common in Upper 

 Egypt. 

 The Bubalus, or Bekr-el-Wash, is as large as a 



heifer, and very bovine in appearance ; the head is 

 singularly long and narrow, with a straight flat chaf- 

 fron ; hence the eyes appear as if placed high in the 

 nead. The shoulders are elevated, and the neck 

 resembles that of the ox ; the general colour is red- 

 brown, a black tuft of long hair terminating the 

 tail. 



The bubalus is easily tamed, and, according to 

 Dr. Shaw, of so familiar a disposition, that the young 

 calves frequently mix with domestic cattle, and soon 

 learn to attach themselves to the herd without at- 

 tempting to escape afterwards. The male bubalus 

 in its mode of combat resembles the bull ; he lowers 

 his muzzle to the ground, and striking upwards, or 

 from side to side, endeavours to gore and toss his 

 antagonist with his horns, which are very formidable 

 weapons. 



There is in South Africa a species -very nearly 

 allied to the Bekr-el-Wash of Barbary, termed by 

 the Dutch the Hartebeest (A. Caama, F. Cuvier). It 

 resides in large herds, and is an object of the chase, 

 its flesh being very finely flavoured, and more nearly 

 resembling the beef of the ox than that of any other 

 animal except the canna. It is moderately fleet, its 

 pace when at full speed resembling a heavy gallop ; 

 but when at some distance from its pursuer, it will 

 stop and turn to gaze, as if to ascertain whether he 

 be followed or not— a habit which operates to its 

 disadvantage. It is mild and tractable ; but when 

 hard pressed, and infuriated by wounds, it uses its 

 powerful horns with great effect, dropping on its 

 fore-knees, and in this position advancing towards 

 its enemy, and then suddenly darting forwards with 

 great force and rapidity. The Hartebeest has rather 

 an extensive range, being found in the Cape Colony, 

 as well as almost everywhere between it and the 

 tropic of Capricorn. In the former locality, however, 

 it is now only found on the extensive flats bordering 

 upon the Caffre frontier. Another allied species is 

 the Sassaby, or Bastard Hartebeest (A. iunata). 

 Though this species (as it is stated in the catalogue 

 of the South African Museum) is not known to occur 

 so far south as the Colony, yet it is tolerably abun- 

 dant in the neighbourhood of Lattakoo, and very 

 much more so between 26° and the tropic of Capri- 

 corn. In the latter locality especially it. is found, 

 like the Hartebeest, in herds of from six to ten or 

 even more individuals, and chiefly frequents flat and 

 wooded districts. Where fire-arms are used, or where 

 the necessities of natives have made them indefati- 

 gable in the chase, this animal is vigilant and shy; 

 but in situations where it has been left in compara- 

 tive peace, it regards the approach of man with curi- 

 osity, almost unmixed with fear; just discontinuing 

 to feed, and raising its head to gaze, but never at- 

 tempting to fly, unless he approach very close. Its 

 flesh is fully as valuable as that of the Hartebeest. 



Catoblepas, FI. Smith. — Homsin both sexes, com- 

 mencing in a dense mass covering the top of the 

 forehead, wdience they sweep downwards over the 

 eyes, and then turn boldly upwards, terminating in 

 sharp round points. Head heavy and ox-like ; 

 muzzle very broad and muscular; and the nostrils 

 covered by a large moveable lid, continued from 

 the skin of the muzzle, and capable of being opened 

 or shut at pleasure. Suborbital sinus reduced to a 

 small gland in the skin, concealed in a tuft of hair. 

 No inguinal pores. Females with two teats. A 

 full mane runs down the neck. Tail furnished with 

 long hairs and bushy. 



The animals belonging to this generic group are 

 remarkable for the singularity of their form, which 

 partakes of that of the horse and buffalo. The head 

 and horns are those of a buffalo ; the eyes are large, 

 wild, and expressive of a savage and vindictive dis- 

 position. The neck, with its mane, the tail, and 

 the general contour of the body are those of the 

 horse ; the legs are well turned and vigorous, re- 

 sembling those of the stag. The action and gallop 

 of these animals (the Gnus) are so much like those 

 of a horse, that a troop of them seen scouring the 

 plain at a distance might easily be mistaken for 

 zebras or quaggas, were it not for the difference of 

 colour. Besides the mane down the back of the 

 neck, the chaffron above the muzzle is furnished 

 with a tuft of long, diverging, bristly hairs, and the 

 chin and throat are also covered with hairs of a 

 similar character, forming a shaggy beard, while a 

 full mane flows down from the chest between the 

 fore-limbs. 



656, 657, 658.— The Gnu 

 (Antilope Gnu), T'Gnu of the Hottentots. The 

 gnu equals a well-grown ass in size, exceeding four 

 feet in height, and is a native of the wild karroos 

 of South Africa und the hilly districts, where it 

 roams mostly in large herds, which migrate ac- 

 cording to the season. The extent of its range in 

 the interior regions is not known ; as far, however, 

 as travellers have penetrated, herds have been 

 met and chased, for its flesh is prized as food both 

 by the natives and the colonists. They are, how- 

 ever, extremely wild, and not to be approached 



