SCYTHIAN ANTELOPE. 
261 
collecting in autumn in flocks, which consist of 
some thousands,, and retiring into the southern 
deserts. In spring they divide again into little 
flocks, and return to the north. 
It seldom happens that a whole flock lies down 
to rest all at the same time, but some are always 
stationed on watch. When these are tired they 
give a jkind of notice to such as have taken their 
rest, who instantly rise, and, as it were, relieve the 
sentinels of the preceding hours. By this means 
they often preserve themselves from the attacks 
of the wolves, and the insidious stratagems of the 
hunters. They are so swift that they are able 
for a while to out-run the fleetest horse* or grey- 
hound ; yet such is their extreme timidity and short- 
ness of breath, that they are very soon taken. If 
they are but bitten by a dog they instantly fall 
down, and will not again attempt to rise. In run- 
ning they seem to incline on one side ; and their 
fleetness is for a short time so astonishing, that their 
feet appear scarcely to touch the ground. In con- 
sequence of the heat of the sun, and the reflection 
of its rays from the sandy plains which they fre- 
quent, they become in summer almost blind, which 
is another cause of their destruction. In a wild 
state they seem to have no voice, but when brought 
up tame, the young emit a sort of bleating, like 
sheep. 
The females bring forth only one young one at a 
time, and this in the month of May. The young 
are easily domesticated ; but the old ones, when 
taken, are so wild and timid as to refuse food en- 
tirely. The flesh of these antelopes is sometimes 
eaten/but its taste is to most people very rank and 
disagreeable. The horns and skins are of consi- 
derable use in a commercial view. 
