J l i 1 220 1776, January* A V O Y A G E t o t h e feen bunte-boks, though fomewhat different from the above- mentioned. The gnu, which I have defcribed above at pages 13 2,15 2, and 17 5 , and have given the figure of in Plate II. of this volume* I reckon,, with ftill greater confidence than I did before, among the large gazels of Africa; fince induced by the arguments I have made ufe of to this purpoie in the Swediih Tranfadtions, the great Engliih P l i n y , whofe admirable Hiftory of Quadrupeds I have fo often quoted in thefe iheets, has likewife thought proper to refer the gnu to the gazel. kind. To the fmaller African gazels, (which, indeed, has been already treated of) having no porus ceriferus underneath the eye, belong the following: The bofch-bok, or antilope fylvatica, cormbus ereSlis fubtri- quetris fpiralibusy corpore fufco, albo maculato, cauda breviffi- tna. This animallhave already fpoken of at page 270,Vol.I. and have given the figure o f it in Plate VI. of this volume. As the fpecific difference o f the other gazels, which are better known than this in the refpedfive deferiptions of each o f them, or may be found in iome of the authors there quoted, I choofe to omit the infertion of them here, in order to avoid prolixity ; particulary as it would be o f no fervice, excepting with refpeft to the making out of the nomenclature of the whole genus. The fpring-bok, or the bounding goat, (vide page 83 to page 90, and Plate V. of this volume) is called by M, P a l l a s , in his Fafc. XII. page 15, the aniilope pygargus. Befides the gazels above-mentioned, there are feveral others of which I am not able to give the zoologifts fo good 6 an C A P E o f G O O D H O P E . an account as they may require of me. I conceive; never- »77*» thelefs, that the enumerating of them here will not be O-rO wholly ufelefs, as by this means- the attention of naturalifts and travellers may be turned to them in a particular manner, fo that fome light may at length be thrown on this- principal branch- of zoology, which lias been hitherto' fo- much involved, in. darknefs, Thefe- animals are. the following : The ree-bok is a gregarious animal, two feet in height. The predominant colour of it is an aih-colour, fomewhat refembling that of a hare,, but a little inclining to red the- belly and anus are white, as well as the under part of the tail, which is-very fhort; the horns are black, quiteftraight, and in pofition, form and fubftance, very like thofe of the gemfe; boky but are barely a foot long, and- proportionally very fmall, confequently very taper at the end and fharp- pointed; for which-reafon the Hottentots frequently keep them by them, and ufe them as awls or bodkins for the purpofe of boring holes, when they make or repair their fhoes or cloaks.. The hair likewife of this- creature;feems to be fofter and finer than common. The fleflr o f it is dry; and is accounted worfe than that o f any other gazel. .: This animal, was not uncommon in Hottentots Holland^ Art aquas-kloofy'xnALanger k l o o f I muft own,however, that I have drawn up the account I have, juftgiven of this, animal, from memory only, as I had the misfortune to lofe the original defeription, together with the drawing.. In a journey like- mine, Ioffes, of this kind, are not to be wondered at. , At times, when I. was wet through with heavy fhowers of rain, Or in confequence of having forded a-river,
27f 72-2
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