THE LIVING WORLD. 
597 
STRIPED ANTELOPE. 
The Nakong, or Nzoe ( Tragelaphus spekii ), is an almost aquatic animal, 
found in the interior of Africa. When swimming it exposes itself very 
little. It lies in the rushes by day and pastures by night. The hunter burns 
the rushes, and uses the fire thus kindled to drive the nakong into clear water, 
as well as for enabling him to see the horns which are the only part of the 
animal above the surface of the 
water. The nakong is smaller 
than the leche, and is better 
provided with a paunch than are 
most antelopes. It is grajdsh- 
brown, and its coat is long, 
sparse and coarse-looking, and is 
spotted, not striped. It carries 
small, twisted horns, which are 
provided with double, winding 
ridges. It moves with the 
shambling gallop of a mangy 
cur dog. 
The Nilgau {Portaxpictus ) 
is frequently to be met with in 
zoological gardens. It comes 
from India, and its grayish- 
brown coloring is relieved by 
white patches on the face and legs, 
and by a full black mane and throat whiskers. Its short horns are almost straight. 
The Abyssinian Beisa {Oryx beisa), though sometimes found on the coast, 
prefers the desert. It is parti¬ 
colored, and while generally 
inclining to yellow, as the 
color of its coat, it is white at 
the extremity of the mouth and 
nose, the lower ears, the belly 
and the antlers. Its face bears 
black triangular marks, and a 
slanting black line under the 
eye. It is stout and large in 
size, has a bushy tail, and its 
three-foot horns run straight 
back without spreading; they 
are annulated on the lower half. 
Its habitat is Abyssinia. 
The Gemsbok {Oryx ca- 
pensis ) is sometimes called the 
kokama , is nearly four feet in 
height, and has South Africa as its habitat. It is prevailingly gray in color, 
but the flanks, hind-quarters, tail and back are black, and it has a black 
streak across its face. It has an erect short mane, and long, heavy, sharp- 
pointed horns, which it has been known to use to the discomfiture of the lion. 
It is supposed by many to require no water, but others more reasonably sup- 
ABYSSINIAN BEISA. 
