36 



GREAT GAME ANIMALS. 



[West 

 Corridor. 

 Case X.] 



[Cases 

 VII &X.] 



[Lower 



Mammal 



Gallery.] 



... ... The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus , 1 1 90), of 



The Addax Antelope. AT v - . . ,T '* 



JNorth Africa and Syria, is a near relative of 

 Genus Addax. Antelopes of the genus Hippotragus, from 



which it differs structurally by the horns forming an open spiral, 

 ascending nearly in the plane of the face, these being ringed for 

 the greater part of their length. The forehead, neck, throat, and 

 shoulders are clothed in winter with long shaggy hair. In habits, 

 the Addax is very similar to the Oryxes, dwelling in deserts, and 

 being apparently independent of water; its pale colouring, 

 especially in summer, is an adaptation to desert life. 



The Oryx Group ^ e Gemsbuck {Oryx gazella, 1191) of South 

 Africa, with certain allied species, constitutes a 

 Genus Oryx. genus nearly allied to Hippotragus, but distinguished 

 by the straight or recurved horns (fig. 17) sloping backwards more 

 or less nearly in the plane of the face. Oryx, as these Antelopes 

 are collectively called, are found throughout the desert-tracts of 

 Africa, and also in Arabia and Syria. The Gemsbuck (O. gazella) 

 is a South African species ; in Abyssinia and Somaliland it is re- 

 placed by the Beisa Oryx (O. beisa, 1192), in which the black 

 markings have a different arrangement ■ while in East Africa it is 

 represented by the Fringe-eared Oryx (0. callotis, 1193). The 

 Scimitar Oryx (O. algazal, 1194) is from North-Eastern Central 

 Africa. Oryx are desert Antelopes, generally found in herds of 

 considerable size, although the old males sometimes separate from 

 the others. They are independent of water, and flourish where 

 the vegetation is scanty. The Gemsbuck has been known to 

 kill the Lion by transfixing it with its horns. 



The Gazelles. ^he Gazelles form the largest genus of the subfamily 

 Genus Antilopince. The subfamily is characterised by the 

 Gazella. narrow crowns of the molars, which are similar to those 

 of the Sheep, and the hairy muzzle. Generally there are face- 

 glands below the eyes ; and the tail is moderate or short. Pits 

 are present in the forehead of the skull, and the horns are ringed 

 for part of their length, with a compressed base ; their form being 

 often lyrate, but sometimes spiral. Gazelles inhabit open, and 

 frequently more or less desert districts. They are mostly of a 

 sandy colour, with dark and light markings on the face, and often 

 a dark band on the flanks. The horns are more or less lyrate, and 



