With antelopes it is sometimes difficult to imagine how they can
possibly use their curiously-shaped horns; thus the springboc (Ant.
euchore) has rather short upright horns, with the sharp points bent
inwards almost at right angles, so as to face each other; Mr. Bartlett
does not know how they are used, but suggests that they would inflict a
fearful wound down each side of the face of an antagonist. The
slightly-curved horns of the Oryx leucoryx (Fig. 63) are directed
backwards, and are of such length that their points reach beyond the
middle of the back, over which they extend in almost parallel lines.
Thus they seem singularly ill-fitted for fighting; but Mr. Bartlett
informs me that when two of these animals prepare for battle, they
kneel down, with their heads between their fore legs, and in this
attitude the horns stand nearly parallel and close to the ground, with
the points directed forwards and a little upwards. The combatants then
gradually approach each other, and each endeavours to get the upturned
points under the body of the other; if one succeeds in doing this, he
suddenly springs up, throwing up his head at the same time, and can
thus wound or perhaps even transfix his antagonist. Both animals always
kneel down, so as to guard as far as possible against this manoeuvre.
It has been recorded that one of these antelopes has used his horn with
effect even against a lion; yet from being forced to place his head
between the forelegs in order to bring the points of the horns forward,
he would generally be under a great disadvantage when attacked by any
other animal. It is, therefore, not probable that the horns have been
modified into their present great length and peculiar position, as a
protection against beasts of prey. We can however see that, as soon as
some ancient male progenitor of the Oryx acquired moderately long
horns, directed a little backwards, he would be compelled, in his
battles with rival males, to bend his head somewhat inwards or
downwards, as is now done by certain stags; and it is not improbable
that he might have acquired the habit of at first occasionally and
afterwards of regularly kneeling down. In this case it is almost
certain that the males which possessed the longest horns would have had
a great advantage over others with shorter horns; and then the horns
would gradually have been rendered longer and longer, through sexual
selection, until they acquired their present extraordinary length and
position.
With stags of many kinds the branches of the horns offer a curious case
of difficulty; for certainly a single straight point would inflict a
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