. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 530 THE CHAMOIS. It uses these horns with as much address as its near relative the Gems-bok, aud if it should be lying wounded on the ground, the hunter must beware of approaching the seemingly quiescent animal, lest it should suddenly strike at him with its long and keenly-pointed horns, while its body lies prostrate on the earth. Should it be standing at bay, it is a very dangerous opponent, having a habit oi suddenly lowering its bead and charging forward with a quick, lightning-like
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 530 THE CHAMOIS. It uses these horns with as much address as its near relative the Gems-bok, aud if it should be lying wounded on the ground, the hunter must beware of approaching the seemingly quiescent animal, lest it should suddenly strike at him with its long and keenly-pointed horns, while its body lies prostrate on the earth. Should it be standing at bay, it is a very dangerous opponent, having a habit oi suddenly lowering its bead and charging forward with a quick, lightning-like speed, from which its antagonist cannot escape without difficulty. The color of this animal is grayish-white upon the greater part of its person, and is diversified by sundry bold markings of black and ruddy brown, which are spread over the head and body in a manner that can be readily comprehended from the illustration. The. ORYX.—Oryx leucoryx. height of the Oryx is rather more than three feet six inches, and the long curved horns are upwards of three feet in length. These horns are set closely together upon the head, from whence they diverge gradually to their extremities. These weapons are covered with rings at their bases, but at their tips they are smooth and exceedingly sharp. Their color is black. The (>ryx is a native of Northern Africa, where it is known under several names; such as Abou-Harb, El-Walrugh, El-Bukras, Ghau-Bahrein, or Jachmur. It lives in herds of con- siderable size, and feeds mostly on the branches and leaves of a species of acacia. Goat-like in aspect, and very hircine in many of its habits, the Chamois is often sup- posed to belong to the goats rather than to the Antelopes. It is, however, a true Antelope, and may be readily distinguished from any of its relations by the peculiar form of the horns, which rise straight from the top of the head for some inches, and then suddenly curve backwards, so as to form a pair of sharp hooks. Formerly, this
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
