When not taken
from living specimens, or skins, the artists of old drew somewhat upon
their imaginations for their facts, as is the case with this Antelope, of
which Topsell gives the following description:—“They are bred in India,
and Syria, neere the River Euphrates, and delight much to drinke of the
cold water thereof. Their bodie is like the body of a Roe, and they have
hornes growing forthe of the crowne of their head, which are very long and
sharpe; so that Alexander affirmed that they pierced through the sheeldes
of his Souldiers, and fought with them very irefully: at which time his
company slew as he travelled to India, eight thousand, five hundred, and
fifty; which great slaughter may be the occasion why they are so rare, and
seldome seene to this day, by cause thereby the breeders, and meanes of
their continuance (which consisted in their multitude) were weakened and
destroyed. Their hornes are great, and made like a saw, and they, with
them, can cut asunder the braunches of Osier, or small trees, whereby it
commeth to passe that many times their necks are taken in the twists of
the falling boughes, whereat the Beast with repining cry, bewrayeth
himselfe to the Hunters, and so is taken. The vertues of this Beast are
unknowne, and therefore Suidas sayth an Antalope is but good in part.”
When not taken
from living specimens, or skins, the artists of old drew somewhat upon
their imaginations for their facts, as is the case with this Antelope, of
which Topsell gives the following description:—“They are bred in India,
and Syria, neere the River Euphrates, and delight much to drinke of the
cold water thereof. Their bodie is like the body of a Roe, and they have
hornes growing forthe of the crowne of their head, which are very long and
sharpe; so that Alexander affirmed that they pierced through the sheeldes
of his Souldiers, and fought with them very irefully: at which time his
company slew as he travelled to India, eight thousand, five hundred, and
fifty; which great slaughter may be the occasion why they are so rare, and
seldome seene to this day, by cause thereby the breeders, and meanes of
their continuance (which consisted in their multitude) were weakened and
destroyed. Their hornes are great, and made like a saw, and they, with
them, can cut asunder the braunches of Osier, or small trees, whereby it
commeth to passe that many times their necks are taken in the twists of
the falling boughes, whereat the Beast with repining cry, bewrayeth
himselfe to the Hunters, and so is taken. The vertues of this Beast are
unknowne, and therefore Suidas sayth an Antalope is but good in part.”