356 BLUE ANTELOPE. 



its horns, and the length of its hair, may be said 

 to connect, in some degree, the Antelopes with 

 the Goats. It seems to have been first described 

 by Kolben, in his account of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and is said to be found a great way up the 

 country to the north of the Cape. It is to Dr. 

 Forster and Dr. Pallas, that we owe its more accu- 

 rate description and history. Dr. Forster informs 

 us, that it is at present by no means uncommon at 

 the Cape, and is there known by the name of the 

 Blue Goat, on account of its colour, which is an 

 elegant blueish grey, the blue cast being rather the 

 effect of reflected light, than any inherent colour, 

 since it entirely disappears in the dead animal, the 

 hair then lying closer than during life, and not re- 

 flecting the light. The belly, insides of the legs, 

 and tip of the tail, are white ; and there is also a 

 pretty large white spot beneath each eye : the 

 horns are about eighteen or twenty inches long, 

 slightly curved backwards, black, smooth, and 

 marked with about twenty rings, which are more 

 prominent on the inner side than the outer : the 

 tail measures about seven inches, and is tipped 

 with long hairs. The female is said to be horned 

 as well as the male. 



