XXI 
HORNS 
269 
different species of antelopes. In the marslibuck the 
spiral is wide and long (p. 34). The horns of the 
bushbuck are not unlike an old-fasliioned two-tined 
fork with twisted tines. In the eland the horns are 
parallel and the twist is close and tight; in the kudu 
and the bongo the spiral is open and graceful, not¬ 
withstanding the thickness of the horns in proportion 
to their length. The horns in the young eland bull 
are straight, and betray no sign of twist. The forces 
which determine the spiral growth of antelope’s horns 
are unrecognised, and this applies equally to the forma¬ 
tion of the rings on “ annulated ” horns and the 
“crumpling” of the horns of oxen. In this group 
horns are usually restricted to the males, and they 
are not ringed. Among elands the horns of the cow^s 
are longer than those of the bulls. 
( 2 ) Annulated Horms .—These possess transverse 
ridges or rings. Such horns are seen in the hartebeest, 
the oryx, the cobs, the reedbucks, roan antelope, 
gazelles, and duikers. Among antelopes with annu¬ 
lated horns the females, as a rule, are similarly 
decorated, but the horus are smaller than those of the 
male. 
There is one curious antelope with horns of such an 
odd shape that it will not fit into either of these groups, 
namely, the wildebeest or gnu. In regard to this weird 
animal, with horns more like those of the buffalo than 
the other members of the antelope section of this great 
family, it is noteworthy that in the young gnu they 
grow out like spikes and subsequently assume the odd 
shape seen in the adult animal (p. 301). 
The annulated horns of antelopes differ in an extra¬ 
ordinary way in shape and in the relation of the horns 
to each other ; they also vary enormously in size in 
different animals of the same species. 
The horns of the oryx are almost straight and nearly 
parallel to each other. They are much prized by 
hunters. Sometimes they attain a length of thirty-six 
