Antilope saltans, Kerr, Linn. An. K. p. 312 (1792).
Antilope saltatrix, Link, Beytr. p. 79 (1795) (nec Bodd.).
Antilope saliens and A. dorsata, “Lac.,” Desm. N. Dict. d’H. N. (1) xxiv. Tabl. p. 33 (1804).
Vernacular Names:—Springbuck of English; Springbok or Prongbok of Dutch; Tsebe (A. Smith) or Umegi (Drummond) of Kaffirs. Insaypee of Bechuanas; Eetsaypee of Makalakas (Selous).
Height at withers 31 or 32 inches. General colour bright rufous fawn; a strongly marked, dark, lateral band present, as in many Gazelles. Face pure white, a narrow fawn-coloured line running forwards to the muzzle from the openings of the anteorbital glands on each side. Crown and centre of forehead fawn-coloured like the neck and back. Ears long and pointed, their backs white or pale fawn. Posterior back with a strongly contrasted pure white line, the white hairs of which are placed in a fold of the skin, which fold is everted when the animal is excited, and then forms a prominent white crest; rump white, in continuation with the dorsal line; tail also white basally, black and crested terminally. Belly pure white. Limbs fawn-coloured externally, white on their inner sides and behind.
Skull-dimensions of a male:—Basal length 7·8 inches, greatest breadth 3·7, muzzle to orbit 4·7.
Horns attaining a length of about 14 or 15 inches round the curves, one specimen being recorded as long as 19 inches.
Female similar to male, but horns smaller and not so strongly ringed at the base.
Hab. South Africa, south of the Zambesi, extending northwards on the west to Mossamedes.
The Springbuck is, no doubt, very closely allied to the Gazelles; but in view of its peculiar dentition, which, as we have pointed out above (p. 53), is unique in the bovine family, and of the remarkable dorsal fold of skin, which is not found in any of its allies, we have thought it advisable to adopt for it the generic term Antidorcas, first provisionally suggested for it by Sundevall in 1847, and subsequently employed by many naturalists. The locality of the Springbuck is also quite distinct from that of the typical Gazelles, which are essentially a northern group, no true Gazellæ being met with until we advance as far north as German East Africa.