The book of antelopes, vol. 4 (of 4) by Philip Lutley Sclater and Oldfield Thomas

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The book of antelopes, vol. 4 (of 4) by Philip Lutley Sclater and Oldfield Thomas

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By Ronald Gonzalez Posted on Dec 25, 2025

In Category - Economics

Authors: Thomas, Oldfield, 1858-1929 Published By : Thomas, Oldfield, 1858-1929

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. I know a 19th-century scientific catalogue of antelopes doesn't sound like a page-turner. But here's the thing: this book is a time capsule. It's the frantic, final sprint to document a world that was already slipping away. Two Victorian naturalists, Sclater and Thomas, are racing against extinction, empire, and their own limited technology to pin down the entire family of antelopes before some species vanish forever. It’s less about dry facts and more about the human obsession to name, know, and save. It’s surprisingly dramatic! Think of it as the original, real-life 'race against time' documentary, but in book form.

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ASSISTANT IN THE ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. [Illustration] IN FOUR VOLUMES (1894–1900). VOL. IV. LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W. 1899–1900. [Illustration: ALERE FLAMMAM.] PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. CONTENTS. VOL. IV. Page Subfamily VI. HIPPOTRAGINÆ 1 Genus I. Hippotragus 3 110. The Blue-buck. _Hippotragus leucophœus_ (Pall.). [Plate LXXVI.] 5 111. The Roan Antelope. _H. equinus_ (Desm.). [Plates LXXVII. & LXXVIII.] 13 112. The Sable Antelope. _H. niger_ (Harr.). [Plates LXXIX. & LXXX.] 31 Genus II. Oryx 41 113. The Leucoryx. _Oryx leucoryx_ (Licht.). [Plate LXXXI.] 43 114. The Beatrix Antelope. _O. beatrix_, Gray. [Plate LXXXII.] 51 115. The Gemsbok. _O. gazella_ (Linn.). [Plate LXXXIII.] 57 116. The Beisa. _O. beisa_ (Rüpp.). [Plate LXXXIV.] 65 117. The Tufted Beisa. _O. callotis_, Thomas. [Plate LXXXV.] 73 Genus III. Addax 77 118. The Addax. _Addax naso-maculatus_ (Blainv.). [Plate LXXXVI.] 79 Subfamily VII. TRAGELAPHINÆ 89 Genus I. Boselaphus 91 119. The Nilgai. _Boselaphus tragocamelus_ (Pallas). [Plate LXXXVII.] 93 Genus II. Tragelaphus 103 120. The Decula Antelope. _Tragelaphus decula_ (Rüpp.). [Plate LXXXVIII.] 105 121. The Harnessed Antelope. _T. scriptus_ (Pallas). [Plate LXXXIX.] 109 122. The Cape Bushbuck. _T. sylvaticus_ (Sparrm.). [Plate XC. fig. 2.] 117 123. Cumming’s Bushbuck. _T. roualeyni_ (Cumming). [Plate XC. fig. 1.] 123 124. Delamere’s Bushbuck. _T. delamerei_, Pocock 129 125. The Broad-horned Antelope. _T. eurycerus_ (Ogilby). [Plate XCI.] 131 126. Angas’ Antelope. _T. angasi_, Angas. [Plate XCII.] 137 Genus III. Limnotragus 149 127. Speke’s Sitatunga. _Limnotragus spekii_ (Sclater). [Plate XCIII.] 151 128. Selous’s Sitatunga. _L. selousi_ (Rothsch.). [Plate XCIV.] 157 129. The Congan Sitatunga. _L. gratus_ (Sclater). [Plate XCV.] 165 Genus IV. Strepsiceros 171 130. The Greater Kudu. _Strepsiceros capensis_ (A. Smith). [Plate XCVI.] 173 131. The Lesser Kudu. _S. imberbis_, Blyth. [Plate XCVII.] 185 Genus V. Taurotragus 193 132. The Eland. _Taurotragus oryx_ (Pall.). [Plates XCVIII. & XCIX.] 195 133. The Derbian Eland. _T. derbianus_ (Gray). [Plate C.] 215 APPENDIX. List of the Species and Subspecies of Antelopes described as New during the progress of this Work 223 Index 229 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT. VOL. IV. Fig. Page 88. Frontlet of the Blue-buck 11 89. Horns of Baker’s Roan Antelope 25 90. Head of Roan Antelope 29 91. Head of Sable Antelope 38 92. A Leucoryx attacked by a Lion 48 93. Young Leucoryx 49 94. Female Beisa 70 95. Horns of male Addax 83 96. Horns of female Addax 83 97. Head of a female Addax 85 98. Skull and horns of an adult male Nilgai 100 99. Frontlet of an adult male Nilgai 101 100. Skull and horns of Cumming’s Bushbuck 126 101. Frontlet of Cumming’s Bushbuck 127 102. Delamere’s Bushbuck 130 103. The Bongo Antelope 134 104. Head and horns of the Broad-horned Antelope 135 105. Head and horns of Angas’ Antelope 140 106. Angas’ Antelope, ♂ & ♀ 146 107. Horns of _Tragelaphus_ sp. inc. 147 108. Speke’s Sitatunga in a Papyrus-swamp 153 109. Horns and feet of Speke’s Sitatunga 154 110. Speke’s Sitatunga, ♂ & ♀ 156 111. Outer view of right foot of Selous’s Sitatunga, ⅓ t. size 158 112. Horns of Congan Sitatunga 167 113. Head of the male Cgan Sitatunga, from the specimen in the British Museum 169 114. Male and female Kudu 183 115. Horns of Lesser and Greater Kudus 188 116. Skull and horns of Livingstone’s Eland, ♂ 205 117. Horns of _Taurotragus oryx gigas_ 208 118. Abnormal horns of female Eland 209 119. Herd of Derbian Elands 218 120. Horns of Derbian Eland 219 121. Front view of the horns of the Derbian Eland 221...

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Let's be clear from the start: this isn't a novel. The Book of Antelopes, Volume 4 is the grand finale of a massive scientific project. Authors Philip Lutley Sclater and Oldfield Thomas were top zoologists of their day, and this volume represents their last word—their definitive attempt to describe, classify, and illustrate every known species of antelope in the late 1800s.

The Story

The 'plot' is the process of scientific discovery itself. The book systematically presents each antelope, from the majestic Giant Eland to tiny duikers, with detailed physical descriptions, habitat notes, and beautiful engraved plates. But the real story unfolds between the lines. You can feel the urgency. New specimens were arriving from across the British Empire, often with sparse information. The authors are constantly comparing skins and skulls, debating classifications, and correcting past errors. It's a snapshot of science in action, messy and passionate, as they try to build a complete picture from scattered, fragile evidence.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book for its sheer, obsessive dedication. It connects you directly to the minds of two men who cared deeply about the natural world. The detailed illustrations are works of art, and reading their precise notes makes you look at these animals in a new way. It’s a humbling reminder of how much effort went into foundational knowledge we now take for granted. This isn't just a list; it's a labor of love and a historical artifact.

Final Verdict

This is a niche read, but a rewarding one. It's perfect for history of science buffs, natural history enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates beautiful old books and wants to understand the roots of wildlife conservation. Don't read it cover-to-cover; dip in, look at the pictures, read a few entries, and soak up the atmosphere of a bygone era of exploration. You'll come away with a real appreciation for these graceful animals and the people who fought to understand them.

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