Antelope of India　印度羚羊

The antelope of India,roams over the open and rocky plains of that immense country.It is distinguished from the rest of its family by the beauty and singular shape of its horns,which are annulated or ringed,and spirally convoluted or curved together,making two or more turns,according to the age of the animal.The fakirs and dervishes of India,who are enjoined by their religion from carrying swords,frequently wear at their girdles the polished horns of the antelope instead of the usual military arm.This antelope is one of the fleetestfooted of its family,and its leap is something wonderful.It is not uncommon for it to vault to the height of twelve or thirteen feet,passing over ten or twelve yards at a single bound.In color it is almost black on the upper part of the body,and light-colored beneath.When full grown,it is about the size of our common deer.

印度羚羊徜徉在印度那一望无际、岩石嶙峋的平原上。与其他羚羊不同的是，印度羚羊的犄角成环状向上盘旋、扭曲，中间视年龄不同而弯成不同个数的弯，看上去美丽而又奇特。在印度，由于宗教信仰不允许苦行僧们佩戴利剑，所以，他们经常把打磨光滑的羚羊角佩戴在腰间，作为平时的防身武器。印度羚羊的腿脚在羚羊家族中最灵活，弹跳力也棒极了。对它来说，一跳跳个十二三英尺（约三四米）高，十到十二码（1码＝0.9144米，10码到12码约合9米到11米）远简直是稀松平常。它的肤色，上半身几乎是黑的，下半身则是浅色。成年羚羊的大小和一只普通的鹿差不多。