1] 
Yet so distinctly has the unerring hand of Nature prescribed to each species of autelope the limit of its own cantonment, that 
whilst those which inhabit the wide and open savannahs, are never known either to wander into the woodlands or climb to higher levels, 
others, whose locality is restricted to the fen, the forest, or the mountain top, evince no disposition to trespass upon the prairie. 
Although liberally distributed over every level part of Southern Africa, the uninterrupted sandy plains which border upon the equator, 
may be considered the head-quarters of the Springbok. In this region of stunted bushes and brackish-pools, they increase and multiply 
to an unlimited extent, and are disturbed by none save by wild beasts, and the yet wilder sons of the desert, who, regarding them as 
their own flocks, occasionally entrap them in pit-falls, or poison the stagnant waters to which they resort. Like all creatures, however, 
whose weakness renders them a prey to the more ferocious, their increase bears to their diminution a relative proportion ; and though 
thousands annually fall to glut the prowlers of the waste, their loss is yearly supplied. Retreating as human society advances, the wilds, 
the deserts, and the solitude, have still formed their homes. Preferring scorched and open tracts where they are least likely to be as- 
sailed with suecess by any of their numerous enemies, these vigilant and timid animals would appear to select for their haunts, the most 
bleak and barren heaths—treeless and sometimes shrubless flats, where they browse on the heather and withered herbage, and nibble 
the bitter succulents which abound in such situations, thriving especially, 
O'’er the brown Karroo, wheré the bleating cry 
Of the Springbok's fawn sounds plaintively. 
In common with most gregarious quadrupeds, those of the antilopine tribe more particularly, this species evinces the greatest 
curiosity at the sight of objects to which it has been unaccustomed—bounding away in the utmost alarm, with a lightness and grace 
absolutely unrivalled, but suddenly stopping in the midst of its headlong flight, to turn and gaze at the object of its terror. Its usual 
ery is a feeble bleat, resembling the voice of a lamb, but whilst thus scrutinizing strange objects. it utters a sneezing noise, accompanied 
by an impatient twitching of the head; the taper foot being stamped petulantly on the ground at the same time, The young fawns are 
easily reared, and in a domesticated state are extremely gentle, playful, and confiding; going forth with the flocks to pasture, and con- 
stantly forming the cherished pet of the farmer's children, whom they will follow about with the attachment of a dog. 
Trusting for their escape to speed alone, in no animal are the senses of sight, of hearmg, and of smell, found in more exquisite 
perfection than in the true antelope. Its dark glancing eye, no less than its proverbial symmetry of form, has ever been a theme of poetical 
enthusiasm ; and both have furnished to Eastern bards the choicest images wherewith to illustrate perfection in female charms. The 
most celebrated of our modern poets haye employed the same beautiful metaphors; and 
Maidens in whose orient eyes 
More than summer sunshine lies, 
might “look on those of the Gazelle,” and envy their long silken fringes and speaking brilliancy. From the increased volume of the 
auditory eavity, which determines the power of hearing, the ear of the antelope derives great superiority over that of every other rumi- 
nating animal; and the powers of scent, as well as the facilities of breathing, are greatly increased by the sack or suborbital pouch, 
which in different species is found variously developed and more or less capable of contraction and expansion. The antelopes constitute 
far the largest assemblage in the whole order of ruminants, and although subdivided into numerous small groups or sections, possess iu 
common the distinguishing feature of persistent horns, standing usually above and between the arches of the orbits. Consisting of solid 
osseous cores externally sheathed over with true horny matter, which increases by the addition of successive layers in proportion to the 
growth of the internal nucleus, they form part and parcel of the frontal bone, and are consequently never shed like those of the stag. 
Nothing therefore ean be more grating to the ear either of the sportsman or the naturalist, than to hear the antelopes termed deer, not a 
single species of which tribe exists in Southern or Central Africa. The horns of all antelopes are simple or unbranched, but whilst some 
are perfectly smooth, the surface of others, like the lyriform appurtenances of the Springbok, are more or less annulated with raised cir- 
cular rings. Buffon was however mistaken in supposing the age to be indicated by the number of these rings, Pallas having clearly 
shown that although there is a positive augmentation in their number as the animal advances in age, yet, since the horns themselves 
increase less and less in volume during each succeeding year of existence, there can subsist no equal relation between the progress of 
life and the development of the annuli. 
Alas! in the Colony of the Cape of Storms, how have the wild sports dwindled from their former prosperity. Those gloomy 
forests that no longer clothe the base of the cloud capped mountain which frowns over the metropolis, were tenanted in ruder times by 
the noblest as well as by the wisest of the brute creation. But before the strides of civilization, together with the rugged aborigines, have 
receded also the scarcely more savage quadrupeds ; and saving certain diminutive antelopes which will hereafter be noticed as frequent- 
ing the sea coast, the Springbok now affords the only four-footed game that occurs in auy abundance. Man, whether in an uncultivated 
or civilized state, is ever a hunting animal; venafor has been his synonym from time immemorial; and this beautiful antelope is conse- 
quently slaughtered im vast numbers by the Dutch Boors both on account of the pleasant pastime its pursuit affords, and for the sake of 
the venison, which although lean, is delicate and well tasted. Wo facilities existing for approach on foot, the sport, as well from 
necessity as from choice, is universally followed on horseback—a dozen farmers or more, usually assembling for the purpose of yaking 
and schutting de wild,* each on his broad shoulder bearing a yoer or gun, of astounding bore and gigantic dimensions. A large square 
of ivory which is‘invariably attached by a stout leathern thong to the muzzle, performs the duty of a sight; and, it being next to impos- 
sible to find a Dutchman who would lend himself to the modern detonating innovations, the apparatus for accomplishing ignition is 
searcely less primitive. On a shagey three-cornered paard, whose outward appearance betokens neither acquaintance with the graiti 
bag uor currycomb, sits Mynheer Buffel as though ensconced on his easy chair; a meerschaum of half smoked tobacco, his never failing 
companion in arms, protruding from the pocket of his greasy waistcoat. He is clad in a jacket, somewhat coarser in the texture than 
* Anglicé, Hunting and shooting game. 
