Page:Charles Catton, Animals (1788).pdf/27



a ditinct clas of animals, partaking many of the characters of the goat and the deer, yet ditinct from either.

The Antelope, or Gazelle, has hollow, truncated and permanent horns, which is not o in the deer; declines the gray pature, and browes on hrubs, which imparts to the fleh a delicate and agreeable flavour; on the other hand, the ize and delicate form agree with the deer; the colour and nature of the hair alo is the ame, but the form of the horns differs very much, being of one tem or talk only (without any branchings out), though of various and very different inflexions, which mark the everal pecies of this tribe. The horns are annulated or girt round with rings at various intervals, at the ame time they are longitudinally depreed or flattened from top to bottom; thee particulars are common to all of the numerous race of Antelopes; of which Mr. Buffon has enumerated twelve; Mr. Pennant doubled that number, and perhaps there may yet be many undecribed varieties, if variations o light, and marks o mall, contitute a new kind. The influence of oil, country and climate, has mot likely produced this great variety, and where it may end is too uncertain to ay. In general, they inhabit the hotter climates of Aia and Africa (three or four kinds only excepted), and go in companies of ix or eight, or ele herd together in vat quantities.

Mr. Sparman mentions a lucky ecape he and his travelling equipage experienced, in being about a quarter of a mile on one ide a herd, not les than ten thouand, which took their coure over the plain where he lay encamped, and, but for this fortunate pace, he and his companions would have been trodden to death.

The eyes of this animal are the mot beautiful and meek which Nature has formed. The eye of the Antelope is a metaphor in general ue among the Eatern poets; and the gallantry of a lover, in thoe countries, can go no higher, than in comparing the eyes of his mitres to thoe of the Antelope.

The form alo is very elegant, and, with their wiftnes, is noticed by the Sacred Writers. Their activity is wonderful, and their peed exceive; the fleetet dogs are left far, very far behind; and when hunted, the aid of the hawk is neceary, which, by fatening on the neck and cheek, either mortally wound, or o much impede their flight, that an opportunity is given for the horemen and dogs to come up and ecure the game. The Lynx or Panther is often employed in this chace, for the amuement of the Great; thee animals ucceed more by craft than peed; creeping lyly forward in a winding coure, at an unwary moment they pring upon the thoughtles animal, mortally wound, and uck the blood.

Antelopes are very timid; ome dwell upon the plains, others, and mot generally, among the hilly countries; at the leat or mot ditant alarm betake themelves to flight, and eek for afety in dangerous and inacceible parts of the rocks; where, it is reported, the Antelope will tand upon a pinnacle or point, no broader than the pace occupied by the four feet drawn cloe together.

The one here delineated is the common or brown Antelope, the horns of which are about eighteen inches long, and fifteen ditant at the tips; tands about three and a half feet high; colour a bright brown; chet, belly, &c. white.