THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 
119 
out. The direction of the horns is extremely variable : 
it is usually more or less ascending from the base ; but 
their points may be turned forwards or backwards, or to 
either side. In many species they are spirally twisted 
so as to form two or three perfect convolutions. 
By means principally of the almost endless variety of 
modifications in form and direction to which these 
organs are liable, it has been proposed to subdivide the 
Antelopes into numerous genera ; but the groups thus 
produced are for the most part confessedly artificial, 
and have no other bond of union, and nothing to 
separate them from their fellows, but this one solitary 
character. Such an arrangement doubtless has its use 
in simplifying the study of a tribe so numerically exten- 
sive by the application of an easy method of analysis ; 
but it can have no pretensions to be regarded as forming 
part of a natural system, in which, it cannot be too 
often repeated, the genus should give rise to the cha- 
racter, and not the character to the genus. Acting 
upon this principle we cannot but treat the Antelopes, 
for the present at least, as a single great natural genus, 
artificially distributed into sections ; although some of 
its component parts will doubtless hereafter be found 
to require separation from the rest. In that case the 
genus itself will form a family, the limits of which will 
then be more accurately defined than at present, by 
means of the extensive researches into its natural his- 
tory and economy which must be entered upon before 
such a subdivision can be properly attempted or satis- 
factorily accomplished. 
The remainder of its characters are rather those of 
general appearance than of essential structure. The 
body is usually slightly and elegantly formed, and 
supported by long slender limbs, the anterior of which 
are shorter than the posterior. The line of profile ii^ 
