ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, 
55 
nor to the eastward. It is common in Central India, and 
occurs in open forests at the base of the Himalaya. Like 
the Indian Antelope it does not frequent the forest country 
of the Malabar coast. Col. A. A. Kinloch says of them 
that “ four-horned Antelopes are generally found alone, or 
frequently in pairs ; they conceal themselves in long grass 
or among low bushes, and somewhat resemble hares in 
their habits. They are seldom to be seen out feeding, but 
usually jump up at the feet of the hunter and bound away 
at a great pace.” The horns of this animal are short and 
pointed, the posterior pair being the longest and rarely 
exceeding 4 to 5 inches, whilst the anterior pair are seldom 
more than one-inch in length, and are occasionally not 
developed, which has led some naturalists to suppose that 
there are two races. The female has no horns. 
In the next division will be found examples of that 
exceedingly handsome animal, the Oryx beisa, the Beisa 
Antelope of Abyssinia. It equals in size the domestic 
ass. Its general hue is grey, with a series of strongly mark¬ 
ed black bands down and across the face, on the back 
and along the flanks, with black points on the limbs. It 
has a short black mane and a long black tail. The 
horns are recumbent, and are extremely long and sharp- 
pointed, and ringed in their lower thirds ; the males having 
heavier horns than the females. The Beisa uses its horns 
with the greatest dexterity, and they’ are very’ formidable 
weapons of offence and defence. Mr. \Y. T. Blanford 
remarks that “ the appearance of a herd of Oryx is very 
imposing. They’ are some of the most elegant and sym¬ 
metrical of animals, the motions being those of a Wild 
Horse rather than of an Antelope.” 
Major Gordon Cumming says of the Gemsbok of South 
