Africa may be considered as the head-quarters of the Antelopes. Australia and Madagascar arc, as far as we at present know, com pletely destitute of Antelopes, as indeed they appear to be of all indigenous ruminants. The precise nature of the habitat frequented by these animals has nothing of a uniform character, but, as might naturally be expected from the different modifications of organic structure observable throughout the genus, differs according to the particular species. Some frequent the dry sandy deserts, and feed upon the stunted acacias and bulbous plants which spriug up even in the most arid situations, where the stony nature of the ground gives a certain degree of adherence to the soil ' • some prefer the open stony plains, the steppes of Central Asia and karroos of Southern Africa, where the grass, though parched, is still sufficient for their sub sistence; some again inhabit the steep rocky mountains, and leap from cliff to cliff with the ease and security of a wild goat, whilst others are found only in the thick and almost impenetrable forests of tropical countries.
Although what are popularly called Antelopes were at one time all referred to the genus Antilope, their number has so greatly increased as to render it necessary to distribute the various species under different genera. As by far the most extensive and available collection of these animals for the British student is contained in the British Museum, we shall follow in this article the arrangement given of these animals by Dr. J. E. Gray in the 'Catalogue of the Specimens of Mammalia' in that collection, "published in 1852.
The family Antilopeic is divided into two great divisions, the Ante lopes of the Fields, and the Antelopes of the Desert. These divisions are recognised by a peculiarity of the nostrils, easily perceived. In the Antelopes of the Fields the nostrils are bald or free from hairs, whilst in the Antelopes of the Desert these organs are boarded within or covered with bristles. There are other distinctions, but these are the most obvious, and readily recognised.