Ernest Ingersoll

“ Though now wholly restricted to Asia and Africa, the antelopes had formerly a wide distribution in Europe and Asia alone. Their disappearance from Europe and spread into Africa within recent times (geologically speaking) , and their enormous multiplication there, form one of the most remarkable incidents in the history of the mammalia. When South Africa was first penetrated by Europeans, many species were found ranging its grassy plains in enormous herds, which formed the principal resource for animal food of the natives and a great number of carnivorous animals. ”

“ Almost all are timid, peaceable animals, with small means of defense, and trusting for safety to the agility and fleetness in which they excel. Most of them inhabit plains, and these are highly gregarious; a few are found only in mountainous regions, while others dwell in pairs or small bands in jungles and deep forests. Paleontologists inform us that antelopes are the most generalized members of the Bovidæ now existing, and “since they are also its oldest known representatives, it is probable that from them have been derived the more specialized types,”—oxen, sheep, goats, etc. ”

“ Vast numbers were wasted by sportsmen and reckless colonists, or were killed for the sake of their flesh and hides, until now the great herds have disappeared from the remotest veldts, many species a few years ago numbered by tens of thousands are reduced to scattered bands, and others have become wholly extinct. The wide and rapid destruction of these abundant, valuable, and beautiful animals can be paralleled elsewhere only by the swift extermination of the American bison. Several species are represented only by small bands preserved upon private estates. ”