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Show 1876.] DISTRIBUTION O F S O U T H - A F R I C A N M A M M A L S . 289 reaching to the shoulders ; the young are much lighter in colour, whereas an old male is as black as jet. In running, the neck is arched, which throws the horns forward. The Sable Antelope is said to be able to defend itself from a Lion by striking sideways with its powerful horns. Mr. Baines has informed me that he has picked up horns covered with the hair and blood of a Lion. He himself saw a dog pierced through from chest to flank by an old male of this species that was wounded near his waggons. 23. ORYX CAPENSIS. (The Gemsbock.) At one time common in Cape colony, Gordon Cumming having killed it not far from Colesberg, the Oryx or Gemsbock is now, I believe, restricted in that district to a locality not far from Cape L'Agulhaz, where a small remnant are now carefully preserved. It seems never at any time to have spread far to the east, at least not to the Zulu and Amaswazi country, according to the testimony of hunters there; nor does it seem to be common in, if even an inhabitant of, the Transvaal. To the west of that country, however, it is common, being found through Secheli's and Sicomo's territories. The borders of the Kalahari desert, by the Zouga up to Lake Ngami, and Damara Land seem to be the stronghold of this animal. Palatzi, a small water-hole in the Bamangwato district, about 27° E., was the only place where I myself observed this animal; but, being disturbed by some Giraffes, I was unable to get a shot. From what I learnt from hunters at Shoshong, however, it occurs east of this again, but sparingly. A friend told me that he never observed this species either going to or coming back from the Zambesi. I have heard that the Matabili have no name for this animal; but the Bechuana term is " Kokama." A good description of the habits of the Oryx is given by Andersson in his ' Lake Ngami.' It may be mentioned that both sexes have horns, these being longer in the female. 24. BUBALUS CAFFER. (The Cape-Buffalo.) At one time abundant all through the Cape colony, the Buffalo now is found no nearer than the Zulu country; and even there it i3 getting very scarce. I heard that a small herd exists in Natal, near Bushman's River, where it is very strictly preserved. The largest herd we met with consisted of at least two hundred individuals of both sexes. The value of their hide has led to their gradual extermination in the more accessible parts, and even far in the Matabili country there were hunters killing them for this only. One man, we heard, had got upwards of a hundred in a month; surely no animal can long withstand such slaughter. On approaching a herd the noise made by the animals rubbing their horns against the trees is very audible, as well as a rumbling sound. There is little danger in attacking a herd, as on the first shot there is a general stampede; but a wounded animal and a solitary old bull are very dangerous ; often a solitary animal will charge down in the direction of the smoke of a shot, or after running a certain PROC. ZOOL. SOC-1876, No. XIX. 19 |