THE 8 ABLE ANTELOPE. 
541 
able, not even the native palate being proof against the rank flavor. The scent extends to the 
skin, which exhales so powerful an odor that, when hunters were engaged in cutting off the head 
of a Water Buck which they had killed, the scent was so strong as to drive them repeatedly 
from their task. The color is brown, with the exception of a grayish- white oval patch round 
the base of the tail. 
The specific term, ellipsyprymnus , is given to the animal in reference to this elliptical 
mark. The female is without horns. The height of the adult male is about four feet six 
inches, and his horns are rather more than thirty inches in length. 
The two species which are placed in the genus iEgocerus bear a considerable resemblance 
to the ibex in the formation of the horns, which are of very great dimensions, large at the 
base, strongly ringed, and curved backwards towards the shoulders. The name IEgocerus is 
of Greek origin, and signifies Goat-haired, in allusion to the peculiar structure of these 
appendages. 
The Blau-bok, or Blue Buck, as it is called, on account of the slaty-blue color of its 
coat, is now a rather rare animal, although it was formerly common in many parts of Southern 
Africa. 
It is a gregarious animal, living in little herds not exceeding ten or twelve in number, and 
preferring hills and slopes to level ground. Like the preceding animal, it exhales a powerful 
odor, which penetrates throughout its entire body, and which renders its flesh so unpalatable 
that it is never eaten as long as other food can be obtained. It is a swift and active creature, 
being remarkable for its speed even among the swift-footed Antelopes. There is a variety of 
this animal, called the Docox, which is found by the Gambia, and which is not quite of the 
same color. The natives assert that the female never produces more than a single young one 
during her lifetime, for that the mother’ s horns grow so rapidly after the birth of the offspring, 
that they penetrate into her back and kill her. The Blau-bok is about four feet in height, and 
the horns are nearly thirty inches in length. 
Although the blau-bok is a truly handsome example of the Antelopes, it is surpassed in 
beauty by its congener, the Sable Antelope. 
This truly magnificent creature is found in Southern Africa, but is never seen near the 
colony, as it is a very shy and crafty animal, and being possessed of great speed, is sure to 
keep itself far aloof from civilization. Gordon Cumming’s description of this animal is as 
follows : 
“Cantering along through the forest, I came suddenly in full view of one of the loveliest 
animals which graces this fair creation. This was an old buck of the Sable Antelope, the 
rarest and most beautiful animal in Africa. It is large and powerful, partaking considerably 
of the nature of the ibex. Its back and sides are of glossy black, beautifully contrasting with 
the belly, which is white as driven snow. The horns are upwards of three feet in length, and 
bend strongly back with a bold sweep, reaching nearly to the haunches.” 
It lives in herds of no very great size, consisting mostly of ten or twelve does led by a 
single buck. As a general fact, the buck takes matters very easily, and trusts to the does for 
keeping a good watch and warning him of the approach of an enemy. Owing to the jealous 
caution of these female sentinels, the hunter finds himself sadly embarrassed when he wishes 
to enrich his museum with the horns of their leader, and if any of them should happen to take 
alarm, the whole herd will bound over the roughest ground with such matchless speed that 
all pursuit is hopeless. In Captain Cumming’s well-known work, there is a most animated 
description of the proceedings of a herd of Sable Antelopes, and of the hunter’s manoeuvres in 
order to gain his point. 
In the native dialect, the Sable Antelope is known under the name of Potaquaine. It is 
very tenacious of life, and will often make good its escape even though pierced entirely through 
the body with several bullets. It therefore fully tests all the powers of the hunter, and he 
who secures a specimen of an old male Sable Antelope may congratulate himself on possessing 
one of the noblest trophies of which a sportsman can boast. 
