THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
of that river — crossed directly into Africa from Southern Europe. The 
Arabian oryx, though it has become small in size and white in body colour, 
because of the scarcity of food, and the intense heat of the shadeless deserts 
in which it lives, has straight horns, and still retains the black face 
markings of its nearest allies, which are found in Africa to the east of the 
Nile. 
The white oryx seems to be found throughout the desert regions which 
extend from Northern Nigeria to Dongola and Kordofan, and sometimes 
approaches the Nile. In spite of the scantiness of the vegetation in the arid 
regions it inhabits, and the intense heat of the sun, it appears to be quite 
independent of water; but at certain times of year it is said to feed on wild 
melons, which seem to be very similar to those which grow in parts of 
the Kalahari in South-Western Africa, and which contain so much juice 
that lions and other carnivorous animals are able to live and hunt without 
access to water, wherever they grow. 
In habits the white oryx appears to be very similar to its congeners, 
the beisa and the gemsbuck, living in small herds either in the open 
desert or amongst the scattered thorn scrub which grows in the valleys 
intersecting those arid regions, which were perhaps once watercourses. 
Like all its congeners, it is said to be very keen-sighted and difficult to 
approach. 
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