In the Cape Colony it is said that the Klipspringer, when taken young, is easily tamed and makes a most sagacious pet; but it does not appear to live long in captivity, and Mr. Bryden tells us that they are most difficult and troublesome to rear. We are not aware that specimens of this Antelope have ever been brought alive to Europe.
Our illustration of this species (Plate XXV.) has been taken by Mr. Smit from specimens in the British Museum. It represents an adult male in the foreground and a male and female together in the distance.
Besides two mounted specimens from the Cape, the British Museum contains three skins and skulls of this Antelope from Mounts Milanji and Zomba in Nyasaland (Whyte), an immature skull from Somaliland (Swayne), and some skins and skulls from Abyssinia.
December, 1895.
Genus II. OUREBIA.
| Type. | |
| Ourebia, Laurill. Dict. Univ. d’H. N. i. p. 622 (1839) | O. scoparia. |
| Scopophorus, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. H. (1) xviii. p. 232 (1846) | O. scoparia. |
Size largest of the subfamily. Hoofs normal, triangular, pointed, the animal standing, as is usual, on the flattened lower side of the hoof, with the point directed forwards. Accessory hoofs present. A naked glandular patch below each ear, and tufts on the knees, present in all the species. Tail short, generally tufted with black.
Anteorbital fossæ of skull very large, their edges sharply ridged above and below. Anteorbital vacuities small. Nasal bones long.
Horns about three-quarters the length of the skull, slanting backwards, slightly or heavily ridged basally, smooth at the tip, but the different species vary considerably in the amount of ridging on the horns.
Distribution. Africa south of the Atlas.