550 
YEETEBRATA. 
Its legs are longer and smaller m proportion to its bulk than in any other species ; its body is 
compact and well made ; its head small, pointed, and ending in a well-formed naked muzzle, and 
its tail reduced to a mere tubercle, scarcely perceptible among the long hair of the croup and 
buttocks. The whole length, from the muzzle to the root of the tail, is about three feet four or 
five inches ; the height at the shoulder is one foot seven inches, and at the croup one foot nine 
inches. The coloring of this species is altogether peculiar, and alone sufficient to distinguish it 
from all other ruminants. In general, it is a reddish fawn-color on the upper parts of the body ; 
but this seems to be glazed, or as it were, overlaid on the shoulders, back, sides, and hips, with a 
light dun or silvery-brown hue, arising from the hairs in these situations being tipped with that 
color; the nose and legs are dark brown; the breast, belly, and interior of the fore-arms and 
thighs white ; the hair of the forehead is long and of a deep red color. The most remarkable 
character of the species is the total absence of spurious hoofs, both on the fore and hind-feet, a 
character which exists also in the Prong-Buck, and which, as far as we are aware, no other rumi- 
nating animals of the hollow-horned family possess. 
The Stein-Boc resides in paii's on the stony plains and mountain valleys of South Africa, not, 
however, frequenting very elevated or rocky localities, as its colonial name of Stein-Boc or Stone- 
BucJc would seem to imply. On the contrary, it prefers the dry, open flats, covered here and 
there, it is true, with large rocks and boulder-stones, but likewise interspersed with clumps of 
stunted bushes and underwood, which furnish it with cover. This is the general character of the 
South African plains in the neighborhood of Cape Town, as well as of the gorges of the moderate 
iiills and mountains, and it is in such situations that the Stein-Boc is most commonly found. It 
's remarkably shy and timid, runs with extraordinary swiftness, and when pursued will frequently 
bound over a space of twelve or fifteen feet at a single leap. When closely pressed, and without 
any further means or power of escape, it will hide its head in the first hole or corner it happens 
to meet with, and thus patiently resign itself to its fate. Though it cannot be called a rare ani- 
mal at the Cape, it is nowhere particularly common, being much hunted on account of the deli- 
cacy of its flesh, which furnishes excellent venison, and great numbers of the young being de- 
stroyed by eagles and other birds of prey. 
Colonel Smith has described the young of the Stein-Boc as a different species, by the name of 
A. rufescens, and the A. pallida or A. 2:)ediotragtis of Afzelius, appears to difter in no respect from 
the adult of the present animal, the really distinctive characters of which have been hitherto very 
imperfectly reported. 
The Grys-Boc or Gray Buck, Antilope melanotis, is closely allied to the preceding, and has 
similar habits. It is found in the country around the Cape of Good Hope. 
The OuREBi, or Bleek-Boc, or Pale Buck, Antilope scoparia, is three feet eight inches long, 
four feet ten inches high ; the horns are awl-shaped ; the general color a pale yellowish-brown 
above, the under parts white. It inhabits the open plains of South Africa, and without being 
positively gregarious, is fond of the society of its own species. It is found chiefly in the eastern 
districts of the Cape Colony, toward Caffraria, and its flesh, though dry and destitute of fat, is es- 
teemed one of the best venisons of the country. Great numbers of these animals are found on 
the plains about Zwartkops Bay. When feeding, they straggle confusedly over the plain, and 
appear to be in company rather accidentally than by intention ; when alarmed, also, they do not 
fly together, but each runs off by itself in whatever direction it thinks most secure from clanger 
for the moment. 
The GiBARi, Antilope montana, is very like the former, but is of a gray-brown color. It is 
found in Abyssinia. 
The Kainsi or Klippspringer, Antilope Oreotraffus, inhabits the most barren and inaccessible 
mountains of the Cape, and appears to supply in South Africa the place of the Chamois and Ibex. 
The entire length is three feet two inches, its height twenty-one inches. The general color above 
is a lively and pleasant mixture of yellow and green ; beneath, it is sandy-red tinged with yellow. 
Great numbers of the young of this species are devoured by eagles. 
The JVesoirac/us Moschatus is an extremely small species ; it is an inhabitant of the Island of 
Zanzibar as well as the neighboring coast of Mozambique. 
