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VERTEBRATA. 
THE ORYX OK GEMSBOK. 
Genus ORYX; Oryx. — Of this there are several species: the Gemsbok or Kookaam, 0. 
Gazella, Antilope Oryx of Pallas, is the Oryx of Cuvier, the Pa'pan of BufFou, and the Egyptian 
Antilope of Pennant. It is a heavy, stout animal, about five feet in length, and three feet two 
inches high at the shoulder ; the length of the horns is from two feet to two and a half, that of 
the ears seven inches, and that of the tail thirteen or fourteen inches. The horns are almost 
perfectly straight, very little divergent, and situated in the plane of the forehead. The general 
color is rusty iron-gray. It inhabits the karroos of South Africa : it is never found in the woods, 
but keeps on the open plains, and lives in pairs or small families of four or five individuals. It is 
extremely dangerous to approach when wounded, if not completely disabled, making vigorous use 
of its long, powerful horns, and it is said, being not unfrequently the first to commence the assault. 
We are even assured that the lion himself is afraid to attack this powerful and courageous ani- 
mal, and that sometimes when, pressed by famine, he has ventured to do so, he has been beaten 
off with disgrace, or even paid for his temerity with his life. In evidence of this, we have 
from Dr. Livingstone the following description of a conflict which he witnessed in South Africa 
between a lion and a Gemsbok. Just as he and his guide emerged from a narrow defile between 
two rocky hills, they heard an angry growl, which they knew to be that of the monarch of the 
forest. At the distance of not more than forty yards in advance of them a gemsbok stood at 
bay, while a huge, tawny lion was crouched on a rocky platform, above the level of the plain, 
evidently meditating an attack on the antilope. Only a space of twenty feet separated the two 
animals. The lion appeared to be in a state of furious excitement ; the gemsbok was apparently 
