“The South-African Oryx is a most wild and warlike-looking animal, not less remarkable for beauty, speed, and vigour, than famed for the excellence of its venison, which is everywhere held in the highest estimation. Although usually found in pairs on the Karroos and unfrequented stony districts, which form its invariable habitation, the males sometimes possess two females, constituting, with their young, a family of five or six individuals. The calves, which are born of a reddish cream colour, become whiter as they increase in bulk, and are easily domesticated; but their uncertain temper renders it difficult at any time to pronounce them tame. Their horns, at first blunt and round at the tips, are soon ground to a fine needle-like point, by dint of raking and whetting them against rough-stemmed trees,—thus becoming most formidable weapons, whether of offence or defence. The horns of the females are much longer and more bodkinish in appearance than those of the males, who never meet during the rutting season without desperate battles, their courage and quarrelsome disposition frequently rendering their duels fatal, one of the combatants often being run slap through the body by a lunge from the long rapier-resembling weapons of his antagonist. The natives of Southern Africa occasionally arm their spears with the horns of the Oryx; and the Hollanders of the Cape have them polished and headed with silver, to serve as walking-sticks, for which purpose they are frequently too long! Strong, active, and vigorous, the Gemsbok boldly defends itself when pressed by the hunter, using its horns with amazing energy and address, by striking right and left at its assailant with prodigious violence. Oppian, the modern Arabs of the desert, and the Hottentots, are all agreed in describing the danger of approaching these animals before they are totally disabled.”

“The Gemsbok was destined by nature to adorn the parched karroos and arid deserts of South Africa, for which description of country it is admirably adapted. It thrives and attains high condition in barren regions, where it might be imagined that a locust would not find subsistence, and, burning as is its climate, it is perfectly independent of water, which, from my own observation and the repeated reports both of the Boers and aborigines, I am convinced it never by any chance tastes. Its flesh is deservedly esteemed, and ranks next to the Eland. At certain seasons of the year they carry a great quantity of fat, at which time they can be more easily ridden into. Owing to the even nature of the ground which the Oryx frequents, its shy and suspicious disposition, and the extreme distances from water to which it must be followed, it is never stalked or driven to an ambush like other Antelopes, but is hunted on horseback, and ridden down by a long, severe, tail-on-end chase. Of several animals in South Africa which are hunted in this manner, and may be ridden into by a horse, the Oryx is by far the swiftest and most enduring.”

“The Gemsbuck is almost entirely confined to the arid deserts of South-western Africa. In the Kalahari desert, to the west of Griqualand West, it is fairly plentiful, and on the road leading along the eastern border of the desert from Kuruman to Bamangwato it is occasionally to be met with, becoming plentiful if one penetrates into the waterless country to the westward, but being unknown to the eastward, of the road. Along the waggon-road leading from Bamangwato to Tati there are a few Gemsbuck above Pelatsi, Serule, and Goqui, and they are sometimes to be met with on the upper course of the Macloutsi, Shashi, and Tati rivers. A few sometimes even wander as far eastwards as the Ramokwebani river. On the road leading from Tati to the Zambesi Gemsbuck are not often met with, but a few are occasionally to be seen in the neighbourhood of Thammasanka and Thammasetsi. A little farther westwards, however, in the neighbourhood of the great saltpans, they are numerous, as they are also in all the country between the saltpans and the Botletlie river, whilst to the west of that river, right through the desert into Damaraland, they are said to run in large herds. Where I have met with them, the country has either been open or covered with stunted bush, and along the waggon-road from Bamangwato to the Mābābe their northern range seems to be limited by the heavily-timbered sand-belts, which run east and west immediately to the south of that river, and into which the Gemsbuck does not penetrate. North of the Mābābe, in the direction of the Chobe, although many parts of the country appear well fitted for it, the Gemsbuck is unknown.

“So far as my experience goes, the Gemsbuck is far from being the fleetest or most enduring Antelope in South Africa, and in these respects cannot be compared to the Tsessebe or Hartebeest. I do not think it is either fleeter or more enduring than the Sable or Roan Antelope; and I have myself run one to a standstill without firing a shot, and I know of several other men having done the same thing. The horns of the cow become longer than those of the bull, as a rule; the longest pair of the former I have ever seen measured 3 feet 10½ inches, and of the latter 3 feet 6 inches,”

Leucoryx Antelope, Penn. Quadr. i. pl. xii. (1793) (not description) (?).

“Antilope dammah der Araber,” Cretzschm. Atl. Rüpp. Reise, p. 22 (footnote) (1826) (?), whence

Antilope dammah, Rüpp. Fisch. Syn. Mamm. p. 475 (1829).

Antilope beisa, Rüpp. N. Wirb. Abyss. p. 14, pl. v. (1835); Oken, Allg. Naturg. vii. p. 1392 (1838); Laurill. Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 617 (1841); Wagn. Schr. Säug. Suppl. iv. p. 477 (1844), v. p. 436 (1855); Reichenb. Säug. iii. p. 123, pi. xxxviii. (1845); Schinz, Syn. Mamm. ii. p. 436 (1845); id. Mon. Antil. p. 33, pi. xxxvii. (1848); Huet, Bull. Soc. Acclim. (4) iv. p. 71 (1887).

Oryx beisa, Sund. Pecora K. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1844, p. 207 (1846); id. Hornschuch’s Transl., Arch. Skand. Beitr. ii. p. 157; Reprint, p. 81 (1848); Gray, P. Z. S. 1850, p. 134; id. Knowsl. Men. p. 17 (1850); id. Cat. Ung. B. M. p. 106 (1852); Heugl. Ant. u. Büff. N.O.-Afr. (N. Act. Leop. xxx. pt. 2) p. 17 (1863); Fitz. SB. Wien, lix. pt. 1, p. 178 (1869); Blanf. Zool. Abyss. p. 262 (1870); Gray, Cat. Rum. B. M. p. 35 (1872); id. Hand-l. Rum. B. M. p. 104 (1873); Scl. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 604, 1874, p. 323, 1875, p. 633; Heugl. N.O.-Afr. ii. p. 111 (1877); Brehm, Thierl. iii. p. 231 (1880); Scl. P. Z. S. 1881, p. 626, pl. liv. (adult and young); id. List Anim. Z. S. (8) p. 139, fig. 19 (1883), (9) p. 159 (1896); Flow. & Gars. Cat. Coll. Surg. ii. p. 262 (1884); Lort Phillips, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 931; W. Scl. Cat. Mamm. Calc. Mus. ii. p. 155 (1891); Flow. & Lyd. Mamm. p. 343 (1891); Thos. P. Z. S. 1891, p. 207; Scl. P. Z. S. 1892, p. 102; Swayne, P. Z. S. 1892, p. 300; Ward, Horn Meas. (1) p. 146 (1892), (2) p. 186 (1896); Lyd. Horns and Hoofs, p. 247 (1893); Matsch. SB. nat. Fr. Berl. 1893, p. 103; Swayne, Seventeen Trips to Somaliland, p. 298 (1895); Rhoads, P. Ac. Philad. 1896, p. 519; Pousargues, Ann. Sci. Nat. (7) iv. p. 131 (1896); Elliot, Publ. Chicago Mus. Zool. i. p. 130 (1897); Neumann, Elephant-Hunting, p. 363 (1898) (Lake Rudolf); Trouessart, Cat. Mamm. fasc. iv. p. 954 (1898).

Oryx biessa, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846).

Vernacular Names:—Beisa of Arabs at Massowa (Rüppell); Beida (Heuglin); Baet of Somalis (Swayne); Ari of Danakils (Heuglin).

Hab. Western shores of the Red Sea from Suakin southwards to Danakilland; Somaliland and British East Africa north of the Tana.

“On returning from the interior I stopped for three days at a halting-place in the semi-desert north of Massowa, and succeeded in shooting four of these superb and rare Antelopes. All were females; but there is little, if any, difference in the sexes, both having equally fine horns.

“The Beisa is found singly or in small herds, rarely exceeding ten in number, in the somewhat hilly barren country near the sea-coast. They are said to keep to the more hilly parts of Samhar. Near Annesley Bay, where the country is more wooded, this Antelope does not occur, but it abounds farther south in the Somali country, and the horns are brought in considerable numbers to Aden and Berbera. They are used as weapons by the Somalis.

“The principal food of the Oryx near Massowa is a coarse grass, almost resembling a diminutive bamboo. They appear to be grazers rather than browsers, although, like all Antelopes, they occasionally eat the young shoots of Acacia and other trees. They are quite diurnal in their habits, feeding in the morning and evening, in this respect resembling the Gazelles, to which they are unquestionably closely allied. When we were in the Samhar country in July and August, the Oryx drank apparently every day, always coming to the water about one or two o’clock. It is probable that they drink less regularly in cold weather.

“The appearance of a herd of Oryx is very imposing. They are some of the most elegant and symmetrical of animals, their motions being those of a wild horse rather than of an Antelope. Their favourite pace appears to be either a steady quick walk or a trot; they rarely break into a gallop unless greatly alarmed. When frightened, they dash off, sometimes snorting and putting their heads down as if charging, raising their long tails, and looking very formidable. They are wary animals, though far less so than some other Antelopes.

“Like the Gazelles and true Antelopes, all equally inhabitants of deserts and open plains, the Oryx has a pointed foot, each of the divisions being rudely triangular. Its tracks may consequently be instantly distinguished from those of cattle or of any of the bovine Antelopes. So far as my acquaintance with the family goes, most of the forest and bush-hunting Antelopes—Koodoo, Nylgai, Tetraceros—have their feet formed like those of the Cervidæ, with rounded hoofs, whilst the Antelopes of the plain, and especially desert forms, have pointed hoofs.”

“The Oryx of Somaliland is a very stoutly-built, bovine Antelope, standing as high as a donkey, and inhabits open stony ground, or barren hills, or open grass plains. It is fairly common and very widely distributed over the Somali country, and it may be found in all kinds of country except in the thick jungle with aloe undergrowth (which is so much liked by the Lesser Koodoo), and the cedar-forests on the higher ranges. The best Oryx ground is in the Haud and in Ogádén.

“The Oryx feeds chiefly on grass, and is often found very far from water. It has a keen sight, and probably protects itself more by this than by its sense of hearing or scent. Oryxes are found in herds of from half a dozen to thirty or forty, chiefly composed of cows. Bull Oryxes are found wandering singly all over the country, and possibly these make up in number for the preponderance of cows in the herds.

“Sometimes two or three cows with growing calves will be found together, making up a small herd of half a dozen. It is nearly impossible to distinguish which are the bulls in a herd, and they are so few in proportion to the cows that it is best, if shooting for sport alone, not to fire at a herd at all. The bull is slightly thicker in the neck and higher in the withers than the cow; and the horns, though an inch or two shorter in the bull, are more massive, especially about the base, and more symmetrical, whilst the cow’s horns are frequently bent and of unequal length. The Oryx is often revengeful when wounded and brought to bay; twice I have seen a wounded one make a determined charge into a mob of Somális armed with spears.

“The Midgáns, who are armed with bows and poisoned arrows, hunt the Oryx with packs of savage yellow pariah-dogs. The thick skin round the withers of a bull is made by them into a white gáshan or fighting shield. The method of hunting, as carried out by the Midgáns in the Bulhár Plain, is as follows:—Three or four of them, with about fifteen dogs, go out just before dawn, and walk along silently through the scattered thorn-trees till fresh tracks are found, and these are followed till the game is sighted. By throwing stones, whistling, and other signs which the dogs understand, they are shown the herd, and settle down to their work. The dogs run mute, the men following at a crouching trot, which in a Somáli is untiring; and this lasts until the dogs open in chorus, having brought the game to bay. The Oryxes make repeated charges at the dogs, which, they often wound or kill. If the latter can avoid the sharp horns of the mother they fasten on to a calf, and sometimes the whole herd will charge to the rescue. The Midgáns run up silently under cover of the bushes and let off a flight of poisoned arrows into the herd, which, seeing the human enemy, takes to flight. Frequently an animal wounded by a poisoned arrow takes a line of its own, and is in due time carefully followed up and found dead, or it may be pulled down in its weak state by the dogs,”

“Oryxes are not often seen in the country north of the Golis Range, but their numbers increase as the Haud is traversed, and on the south of Toyo and in Ogaden they are plentiful. At a distance it is impossible to distinguish the bulls from the cows, as both carry horns, those of the cows more slender and usually longer than the average of bulls’ horns. But this difference in size is not perceptible unless one is very close to the animals. The horns are annulated for two-thirds their length, then become smooth, and end in a sharp point. The average lengths of bulls’ horns are not much over 30 inches, although occasionally specimens are obtained that are several inches longer, and the cows’ horns sometimes reach a length of 37 or 38 inches. They are very formidable weapons, and it is dangerous to approach a wounded Oryx. In charging its enemy the Oryx puts its head low down between its fore legs, with the horns pointed forward not much above the ground, and rushes at the object of its hate with much swiftness. These lance-like horns are quite capable of passing entirely through the body of an animal. Oryxes seem to be quite independent of water, and are often seen many miles from any place where it could be procured. They frequent the waterless, treeless plains, such as Toyo, Silo, &c., in herds sometimes of large size, and subsist upon the harsh dry grass common in such localities. The skin of a bull is very thick on the neck and withers, in, some cases as much as three-quarters of an inch through. The natives select this part of the hide to make their shields, which are sufficiently tough to stop any spear or arrow. As the bulls are very pugnacious, no doubt their tough thick hides are a great protection against the lance-like horns, and save them from being run through this vital portion of the body.”

“We struck camp after having spent a very successful week on the Tyuli Hills, and turned our faces south en route for the zebra-country. Shortly after leaving camp I saw the largest herd of Oryx I have ever seen. It is a difficult matter to estimate the number of a herd of animals unless one possesses some education in that line, but at the lowest estimate there could not have been less than five hundred head. This enormous herd galloped past us at a distance of a little over two hundred yards. It was a beautiful sight to watch. With glistening coats and horns laid back, they tore past. Both J—— and I were too fascinated to think of firing.”

Oryx beisa, Hunter, in Willoughby’s E. Africa, p. 289 (1889).

Oryx callotis, Thomas, P. Z. S. 1892, p. 195, pl. xiv. (head); Ward, Horn Meas. (1) p. 149 (1892), (2) p. 189 (1896); True, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xv. p. 470, pl. lxxxvi. (1892) (full figure); Lyd. Horns and Hoofs, p. 248 (1893); Lugard, E. Afr. i. p. 534 (1893); Matsch. SB. nat. Fr. Berl. 1893, p. 103; Jackson, in Badm. Big Game Shooting, i. p. 293 (1894); Matsch. Säug. Deutsch-Ost-Afr. p. 135 (1895); Pousargues, Ann. Sci. Nat. (7) iv. p. 131 (1896); Jackson, P. Z. S. 1897, p. 454; Trouessart, Cat. Mamm. fasc. iv. p. 954 (1898).

Vernacular Names:—Cheroa of the Swahilis in Brit. E. Africa (Jackson); Kiroha, Swahilis of German East Africa (Stuhlmann); Muhambura in Kirongi (Stuhlmann); Palla-Palla or Kolongo in Uniamuesi (Matschie).

Hab. British East Africa, south of the River Tana, and interior of German East Africa.

“The East African Oryx is known to the Swahilis as ‘Cheroa.’ The Cheroa is found in the Kilimanjaro district in greater numbers (particularly near Useri) than elsewhere. It is also plentiful in the Galla country, between the Sabaki and Tana rivers, and I have myself seen it within a mile of the sea at Merereni.

“It is found more often in open bush country than in the bare arid plains. It is not only a beautiful beast, but is very shy, difficult to approach, and exceedingly tough, and for these reasons many sportsmen covet its head more than the trophies of any other kind of Antelope. The skin of its neck is extraordinarily thick, and à propos of this, all head-skins preserved as trophies should have the skin of the neck shaved down to at least half its thickness to ensure its being properly cured.

“The Oryx is found in herds varying in number from six or eight up to thirty or forty. A bull Oryx is often found entirely by himself, and occasionally along with a herd of Gazella granti or other Antelopes. It is perhaps as well to warn sportsmen to approach Oryx, when lying wounded, with caution, as on one occasion my gun-bearer, on going up to cut the throat of an Oryx, received a severe blow on the thigh from the side of one of the wounded beast’s horns. The blow might have been very serious had the Oryx caught him with the point of his horns instead of with the flat.”

“On the morning of the 20th February, 1898, I fell in with a herd of Oryx on my way down from Machakos to Kibwezi. The herd consisted of some 15 to 20 animals or possibly more. When I first saw them they were feeding near some thickets on the edge of a broad open piece of ground that lay between them and myself, and I was unable to gain cover before I was detected. On seeing me the herd divided and made off in different directions, but, so far as I could judge, the two parts effected a junction before I saw them again. The country hereabout consists of open glades and meadows of all sizes alternating with impenetrable thickets, so being very anxious to secure a specimen of an Oryx, a very uncommon Antelope in this part of the country, I made a long detour, and, by good fortune, again hit off what was, I have not the least doubt, the same herd or a portion of it.

“Without detailing the various attempts that I made to get a good shot it is enough to say that I was fortunate enough to secure two specimens, the one a very fine bull and the other a cow.

“The horns of the bull measure respectively 33½″ and 32″ on the outer curve; circumference of largest horn 7″ and distance from tip to tip 13″: all these measurements exceeding those of the best East African Oryx given in Ward’s book. The horns of the cow are fairly good but much worn and cracked.”