The book of antelopes, vol. 3 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 3 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
As regards its distribution in the present epoch, Dr. Radde points
out that, like the Dziggetai (_Equus hemionus_) and the Argali
Sheep (_Ovis ammon_), the Mongolian Gazelle has retreated to the
south and east from the Russian frontiers since the days of Pallas.
There are at present only two places on the southern borderlands of
Transbaikalia in which this Antelope remains during the summer and
breeds every year. One of these is a district east of the Dsŭn-tarei
which is seldom entered even by the shepherds of the Cossacks. It is
an uninhabited and rather mountainous country, without wood or bushes,
varied by salt-and some freshwater lakes, and covered only with yellow
_Elymus_-grasses. The other district, which is of a similar
character, lies north of the left bank of the Argunj, where this river
enters into the Russian territories between the border-posts of Soktui
and Abagaitui.
Dr. Radde gives the following account of the habits of this animal as
observed by himself and as obtained from the reports of the natives in
1856:--
“About the middle of June the doe produces generally two young
ones which remain quiet for three days, but after that are
strong enough to follow the mother wherever she goes. If caught
when young they quickly become tame. Shortly after my arrival
at Zagan-olui in May 1856 I saw a fawn of this Antelope feeding
with the sheep and goats without requiring any particular
attention.
“In summer these Antelopes are seldom hunted because they
are only occasionally to be found, but they are much pursued
during the early winter. There are, however, but few good
Antelope-hunters, especially amongst the Russians. Various
methods are adopted to get within shot. So long as no snow has
fallen the Antelopes usually proceed about midday in small
flocks to the freshwater lakes, where they break the thin ice
with their hoofs in order to drink. They select the same spot
every day for this purpose, and there it is that the hunter
makes his hiding-place. Driven on to the thin ice, the Antelopes
often fall through and thus become an easy prey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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