ANTELOPES. 
3°7 
hollow internally. The colour of the upper-parts is uniform olive. The small 
straight horns of the male rise vertically from the head and incline slightly 
forwards at their tips; their length averaging only about 4 inches, so that they 
are overtopped by the large ears. The hoofs, although somewhat clumsily 
shaped, are so small that all the four feet could easily stand upon a penny-piece. 
Habits The range of the klipspringer extends from the Cape through 
Eastern Africa as far north as Abyssinia; and in the latter country 
these pretty little animals are found as high up as eight or nine thousand feet above 
the sea. The small size of their hoofs enables the klipspringers to obtain foothold on 
the smallest projections, and they are consequently enabled to bound up the sides of 
the steepest cliffs; needless to say, these antelopes are exclusively confined to hilly 
districts. They were formerly abundant at the Cape, but have now become com¬ 
paratively scarce. Mr. Crawshay writes that “ I have never seen more than a pair 
together, though in places where they are numerous, one occasionally sees as many 
as three or four on the move at the same time.” The flesh is tender and well- 
flavoured. 
The Steinboks. 
Genus Nanotragus. 
Although the name steinbok is properly restricted to a single species of ante¬ 
lope, it will be found convenient in zoology to apply it to all the members of a 
small group of these animals forming the genus Nanotragus. These pretty 
antelopes are all of small size, with short horns in the males, no tuft of hair on the 
crown of the head, a naked muzzle, and a distinct gland below the eye, of which 
the aperture is circular. The steinboks may be divided into three sections, 
of which the first is represented by the true steinbok (N campestris). This 
antelope stands about 23 inches at the shoulder, and is usually of a reddish brown 
colour, white below; but while in one variety the hue of the fur tends to rufous, 
in another it is more or less silvery. Together with the other members of the 
section to which it belongs, the steinbok has neither lateral hoofs nor tufts of hair 
at the knees. The horns usually attain a length of about 4 inches, but rarely 
may be 5 ; and the tail is of moderate length, and of the same colour as the back. 
This little antelope frequents either open country or thin forest, but avoids 
mountainous districts, and is common throughout South and East Africa as far 
north as the Zambesi. Although abundant, these animals are difficult to find, owing 
to the careful manner in which they conceal themselves. On the east coast this 
species is replaced by the larger Zanzibar steinbok (N. moschatus). The third 
member of the section is the royal antelope (N. pygmceus) of the Guinea coast, 
which is the smallest of all the Ruminants, standing only 12 inches at the shoulder. 
It is of a bright chestnut colour, darker on the back than the flanks, with the under¬ 
parts glistening white. 
The oribi (N. scoparia), which is the species represented in our 
figure, differs from the preceding forms by the presence of lateral 
hoofs, and tufts of hair on the knees. It stands 24 inches in height, and is of a 
tawny-yellow above and white beneath, the horns being about 5 inches in length. 
