Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia (1896) (20225815078)

Title: Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia
Identifier: brehmslifeofanim1896breh (find matches)
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Edward, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals; Animal behavior
Publisher: Chicago : Marquis
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive



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490 THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. the heavy bovine forms of the family. This group comprises large, stout, almost clumsy Antelopes, with high withers and sloping backs, shapeless, elongated, broad-muzzled heads, short necks, stout limbs and doubly curved horns, placed on the frontal ridge and existing in both sexes. The Hartebeest The south African Hartebeest of the of South Africa Boers, called Kama by the Bechuanas Described. (Bubalis caatna), is distinguished from its relatives by its longer head and the stronger horns, bent in more acute angles, its proportionately smaller ears and its color. The horns are very stout at their roots, short, and marked by knotty excres- cences about sixteen in number; from their bases they at first ascend parallel to each other, then they curve slightly forward, and in the last third of their length again turn outward and backward at nearly hours, standing in the shadow cast by tree trunks or the gigantic Ant-hills which are situated "invariably in sunny spots, and thus the animal may long escape the detection of watchful eyes by its persistent re- pose and the choice of a background similar in color to itself." Notwithstanding the ungainly shape and the ugly, shapeless head, which give the Kama a striking and clumsy appearance as it strides along, it still produces a majestic impression, which is at its best when the animal falls into a gallop. Active, like any other Antelope, it often delights in queer leaps and antics and not infrequently indulges in strange pranks. Hartebeests which are under human care from early youth become extremely tame; they follow their keeper about, take bread and tidbits out of his hand and signify their affection for him in various
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THE EIETBOK, OR BEED ANTELOPE. This African species of the Antelope sub-family derives its name from its preference for reed-grown marshes, such as shown in the picture. It is of strong build, fleet of foot and has curved horns the tips of which point forward. (Reduncus eleotragus.) and manifold ways. Unfortunately, these beautiful relations between Man and beast do not last long; for as soon as they become conscious of their strength, the animals, especially the bucks, exhibit the innate pugnacity of their tribe and generally display a special animosity and the greatest vicious- ness against those to whom they have previously been most attached. Their flesh is esteemed, as it is among the most savory meats yielded by the Antelope family. The fur is made into rugs, the tanned hide into straps and harness, and the horns, on account of their hardness and lustre, into all kinds of vessels and ornaments. THE REED ANTELOPES. The Reed Antelopes (Rtditnai), like the preceding species, also resemble both the Gazelles and the Oxen in some respects. They have large or medium- right angles; the horns have very sharp points. The color of this Antelope is a beautiful, light cinnamon- brown. In former times the Hartebeest was fre- quent in northern Cape Colony, but incessant per- secution has caused it to retreat across the Orange river. It is found in considerable numbers only to the north of settlements or beyond the localities frequented by hunters; and in the interior of the eastern half of Africa in suitable regions it is among the commonest of the Antelopes. Schweinfurth found it to be one of the most frequent inhabitants of the Bongo and Niam-Niam country. "Most fre- quently," says he, " one meets troops from five to ten in number in the uninhabited wildernesses of the frontiers. In cultivated countries the animal prefers the light forests of bushes in the neighborhood of river valleys, rarely, however, entering the open low- lands. It is in the habit of resting during the noon