II. ANTELOPES OF THE DESERT.
In this section the animals have a broad nose with the nostrils subvalvular, and lined with bristles within. Dr. J. E. Gray divides these into two groups, the Equine Antelopes, and the Bovine Antelopes.
I. Equine Antelopes.
These Antelopes have a broad, depressed, spongy, bristly muzzle, with large nostrils, covered with a large spongy valve.
Connothetes Has the horns bent down, and outwards on the sides, broad at the base, bent up at the tip ; the nose broad, dilated, spongy, bristly ; the nostrils large, operculated; the tail elongate, bushy, hairy from the base; the hoofs compressed in front; the intermaxillary bones elongated ; the nose-hole rather large ; the frontal bone much produced behind. The female has four teats.
66. C. Gnu (Antilope Gnu, Gmelin), the Gnu or Kokoon, is about the size of a well-grown ass. The neck, body, and tail precisely resemble straight till within 2 or 3 inches of the points, where they curve suddenly backwards and inwards, forming a small hook, like those of the Chamois. The prong is situated upon their anterior face, and in adult animals about half-way up from the root ; below it the horns are strongly compressed, rough and scabrous or pearly, like the antlers of deer ; above it they are round, black, and polished. The prong itself is also very much compressed ; it is little more than an inch in length, and points forwards, upwards, and a little outwards. The ears are long, narrow, and pointed ; the tail short and bushy ; the eye large and lively ; the limbs long and' slender; and the whole form and appearance of the animal peculiarly graceful and elegant. The head, ears, and legs are covered with short close hair of the common description, but that of the body is long and padded, and of a texture altogether different from that of other animals. It is tubular or hollow within like the feather of a bird, but so brittle and devoid of elasticity that it snaps with the smallest effort, and, when pressed between the finger and thumb, crushes like a reed and never regains its original form. It stands directly out at right angles to the hide, is about 2 inches long on the back, sides, and buttocks, but from the ears half-way down the neck it exceeds 6 inches in length, and forms an erect mane, equally conspicuous in both sexes. OD the nape of the neck, shoulders, back, and hips, it.is of a uniform fawn-colour for half an inch at the point, and light-blue with a tinge of rose colour at the root ; on the sides, chest, and belly, the latter colour prevails at the root, and the point is of a pure and shining white.
The extremities are uniform light fawn-colour throughout, except OD the interior of the fore arms and thighs, which are white. A broad disk of pure white also surrounds the tail, and passes over the croup, and the throat is likewise marked with two transverse bands of the same colour. This is the winter dress of the animal ; but Dr. Richard son, who has well described it in his ' Fauna Boreali-Americana,' informs us that in summer when the new coat appears, it has at first the ordinary texture and appearance of courtnon hair, and that it only assumes the appearances here described on the approach of the cold season.
The Prong Horn inhabits all the western parts of North America from the 53° of north latitude to the plains of 3lexico and California, that is, presnining this species to be the Mazama of Hernandez : it is particularly numerous on the banks of the southern branch of the Saskatchewan, and on the upper plains of the Columbia River, and a small herd annually visits the neighbourhood of the station called Carl ton House, where some even linger throughout the winter. They are gregarious, frequent the open plains and hills of moderate height, never inhabit closely-wooded districts, and migrate from north to south according to the season. When the ground is clear, their speed sur passes that of most other animals, but a good horse easily outstrips them after a slight fall of snow. They are extremely cnrions, and the Indians, and even the wolves, as we are informed by Dr. Godman, know how to take advantage of their curiosity to get within reach of them, by crouching down, and moving forwards or stopping alter nately. The antelopes wheel round and round the object of their attention, decreasing their distance at every turn, till at last they approach sufficiently near to be shot or captured. This habit renders them an way prey, but as their flesh is not much esteemed those of a small horse, and the pace also, which is a species of light gallop, is so perfectly similar, that a herd of Gnus, when seen at a distance flying over the plains of South Africa, might be readily mistaken for a troop of the wild zebras or quaggas which inhabit the mune localities, if their dark and uniform colour did not distinguish them.