GRACEFUL AFRICAN ANTELOPES 
209 
have given rise to the fabulous story of the unicorn. It is one of the 
most magnificent animals in the universe, and fortunately is still com¬ 
mon in the interior. About the size of a small ass, the gemsbok, as it 
is more commonly known, is of about the same ground color, with a 
black stripe down the back and on each flank, with legs variegated 
with black bands, and a white face marked with the figure of a black 
noseband and head-stall, imparting altogether to the animal the 
appearance of being in half-mourning. The full black tail literally 
sweeps the ground. A mane reversed, and a tuft of flowing black 
hair on the breast and the slender straight horns common to both 
sexes, complete the picture of this beautiful creature. The gemsbok 
is a powerful and dangerous antagonist, charging viciously, and 
defending itself, when hard pressed, with wonderful intrepidity and 
address. Its skeleton has not infrequently been found locked in that 
of a lion—the latter having been transfixed by its formidable horns, 
in a conflict which has proved fatal to both the combatants. 
The Spring Buck. —A still smaller antelope is the spring buck 
and once hunted, never to be forgotten. When frightened and 
running away these elegant creatures take extraordinary bounds, 
rising with curved backs high into the air as if about to take flight and 
they invariably clear a road or beaten track in this manner, as if their 
natural disposition to regard man as an enemy induced them to mis¬ 
trust even the ground upon which he had trod. 
These exquisite creatures are extremely obedient to a leader seem¬ 
ingly elected by them and may often be seen following him through 
complicated evolutions, reminding the spectator of a cavalry review 
with ostriches standing gravely about like general officers. This of 
course occurs only when they have no suspicion of a foreign and hostile 
presence. The male spring buck stands some two feet eight inches high 
at the shoulder. His head and face are white like a lamb’s, the horns 
are black and strong, the tips turned inward and generally either for¬ 
ward or backward and having about twenty complete rings. The 
general color of the hair is a yellow dun with a white croup consist¬ 
ing of long hairs which can be erected or depressed at pleasure. The 
belly, throat and inside of legs are white, separated from the dun by 
a broad rich chestnut band along the flanks, another along the edges 
