Sources : Oryx
Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 2, 40): - There is a wild animal in Egypt called the gazelle [orygem] that according to the natives stands facing this dog-star at its rise, and gazing at it as if in worship, after first giving a sneeze. - [Rackham translation]
Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum, Quadrupeds 4.83): This beast, indeed, is bred in that part of Africa which lacks water. For this reason it happens that this beast burns with perpetual thirst. This beast, as the Egyptians tell us, in the spring of the star which is called the Canicula [dog-star], seems to dance naturally with its body visibly feeling joy, because the rain and the cold have passed away and the fiery vapors of the Sun are appearing, so that the earth begins to be clothed with flowers and to display sweet fruits and grass. There is no doubt that at the rising of the Canicule star the heat of the summer is near, and therefore the beasts rejoice. It is also intolerant of cold, so that it cannot easily endure cold and snow. - [Badke translation/paraphrase]
Bartholomaeus Anglicus [13th century CE] (Liber de proprietatibus rerum, Book18.79): [Bartholomaeus appears to be confused as to which beast the oryx is, comparing it to a mouse, a bird, an ibex and a goat.] Orix, as the Glose saith super Esay. is an uncleane beast, and not according to sacrifice: and the seventie [the Septuagint] translated and made this translation, Quasi Beta seminocta: & all ye other translated in this wise, Sicut Onix illaqueatus, as Orix is snarled: and Orix is called Tho in Hebrue, and is accounted in the lawe among uncleane beastes, and is a beast lyke to a water mouse, or to certaine mice yt are called Glires, & have ye name, for sléeping maketh them fat, and they sléepe all, the winter long, and laye egges unmoveable as they were dead, & quicken againe in Summer, and so Orix is a beast like to such mice: and it séemeth that the letter of Isa. toucheth the same, and accordeth with Plini[us] that saith in this manner: In Aegypt they call a beast Orix, that standeth against the starre Canicula and the rising thereof, the seventh daye before, in the beginning of Summer, and beholdeth on the starre as he would worship it, and that he doth when he is awaked after long sléeping. And this nowne Orix is deelyned Orix, cis, after that it is said Sorex, cis, and Orix, cis, and such other. But Juvenall meneth, that Orix is a certain bird, that is most fat, and he blunteth & dulleth the knife with his fatnesse, as he saith lib. 3. there he saith, that olde Orix blunteth yron, and there by the meaning of this place the Expositors meane, that Orix is like to an hen of Affrica, or such an Hen, and so it is sayde after Briton, Orix, gis. And after the rule of Grecismus, the nowne that endeth in ix, shall give the Genetive ease in cis, or in gis, as Fex, cis, Lex, gis, except Nox, Nix, Senex, and Suppellex, and therefore it is sayd, that Orix is that beast, that is accounted in lawe cleane to eating. Deuteronomeum. 14. there it is sayd in this manner: Thou shalt eate Orix & Cameleopardalus, but it is accounted uncleane to sacrifice. And libro. 8. capit. 3. de Animalibus somniferis, Plinius saieth in this manner: Wilde Goates be shapen in many manner likenesses and shapes, for among them are some called Ilices, and be wonderful light, and leape downe of high rockes and cragges, and fall upon their owne hornes. They are great and mightie, with the horne theyr heads be charged: and some be Origes, and their haire groweth and stretcheth toward the head, against the kinde of other beasts: and some be called Dame, and some Pigrasti, and many other such, and come of mountaines, and from beyond the sea, and so for to speake, Orix is a wilde Goate, and in this signification it is not taken in Esa. there he speaketh of beastes that men do dreame off in evill sléepe and dreames, for it accordeth not to the proportion and comparison: For Aristotle saieth, that everye wilde Goate is wakefull by kinde, and sléepeth but little, and is soone awaked, for it is a fearefull beast: and so Orix is taken for a beast in Deuterono, and for another in likenesse in Esa. as many men meane. - [Batman]