ANTELOPES. 



35 



The Nilgai. The Nilgai or Blue Bull, Boselaphus tragocamelus [Lower 

 Genus (1120, fig. 18), of India, alone represents a genus q^™ 1 

 BoselaphUS. a lli e d to the Bushbucks, but distinguished by the much Case 53.] 

 simpler form of the horns of the males, which are smooth, short, and 

 nearly straight, with a distinctly triangular section at the base, but 

 becoming circular near the tips. The coloration too, is of a different 

 type, the body being nearly uniform bluish grey, while there 

 are white markings on the ears, face, and throat, and white rings 

 above the fetlocks. In build, the Nilgai is a somewhat ungainly 

 creature, owing to the excessive length of the fore-limbs. These 

 Antelopes are found both on the plains and in low hills, generally 

 preferring districts covered with thin bush, or alternations of grassy 

 plains and low jungle. Owing to their being held sacred by the 

 Hindus, they are excessively bold in many districts, and wander 

 through the cornfields where men are at work. The bulls are 

 generally solitary, although occasionally a small number congregate 

 together; but the cows and calves are found in parties usually 

 varying from four to ten in number, although in rare cases con- 

 taining from fifteen to more than a score. 



The Sable Antelope Group. ^ Sable Antelope (F^ofr«^ s niger [West 



1188) and the Roan Antelope (H. Corridor. 



Genus Hippotragus. eguims) belong to a genus near]y Owe XL] 



related to the Oryxes, with which they form a group, or subfamily. 

 In all these Antelopes long cylindrical horns are present in both 

 sexes; the muzzle is hairy ; there is no gland below the eye ; the 

 tail is long and tufted ; and in the breadth of their tall crowns the 

 upper molar teeth resemble those of the Oxen. The Sable Antelope 

 and its allies (Hippotragus) are specially distinguished by the 

 stout and thickly ringed horns rising vertically from a ridge over 

 the eyes at an obtuse angle to the plane of the lower part of the 

 face, and then sweeping backwards in a bold curve. Sable 

 Antelopes are some of the handsomest of the South African Ante- 

 lopes, and are also endowed with great speed and staying power. 

 They are commonly met with in herds including from ten to twenty 

 individuals, but on rare occasions as many as fifty have been seen 

 together. Forest-clad highlands are their favourite resorts. The 

 Boan Antelope is a larger and lighter- coloured species, with a 

 much wider range, being represented in the Sudan by a separate 

 race (H. equinus baker i, 1189). 



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