ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
57 
without horns, the young males resembling the females. 
The muzzle is attenuated ; the lips, and the front of the neck 
behind the jaw, and some spots external to the eyes and also 
on the limbs are white, whilst the insides of the ears are 
barred with black. The male has a short erect black mane, 
and a tuft of black hair on the front of the throat The 
horns are comparatively short, smooth and divergent. The 
tail is long and tufted. The peculiarity in the appearance 
of this animal, besides those features enumerated, depends 
upon the high withers, sloping back, and deep thick and 
compressed neck, and this appearance is much intensified 
when the male is excited, arching his back, drawing 
In his hinder quarters, and moving on sideways to attack, 
with a wicked cast in his eye, but before delivering a 
charge he generally drops on his fore knees and advancing 
in this position springs suddenly to his feet, rushing for¬ 
wards with great energy and rapidity towards his foe. The 
female has four teats, and generally produces two at a birth. 
This animal, in its distribution, is confined to India, ex¬ 
tending from the Himalaya as far south as Mysore, being 
especially numerous in Central India. It is not known 
in Assam, or in the countries to the east of Beneal. 
The Nilgai frequents light forest and low jungle, and it 
is said to drink very seldom except in the hot weather. 
Although very courageous in its wild state, it has been 
not unfrequently tamed, and even yoked and driven. 
Its temper, however, is uncertain, and during the breeding 
season the males are excessively pugnacious and have 
deadly feuds. 
The Eland Antelope, Oreas canna , from Central Africa, 
occupies the next paddock. It is the largest of the 
African Antelopes, attaining to a height of six feet at 
H 
