PELZELN'S, OR THE LOWLAND GAZELLE 



Gazella pelzelni, Kohl. 



Somali name, Dhero 



Description. — This gazelle is very similar to Speke's, but 

 differs from it in not possessing the nasal protuberance and being 

 of a more rufous colour. The side stripe is dark rufous, and is 

 never dusky brown or black as in Speke's gazelle. The horns are 

 slightly different in the two species — being rather more curved in 

 Speke's than the present species. The females of both carry horns, 

 but they differ from each other in that the female horns in the 

 " upland " species are usually longer and more nearly resemble 

 those of the male than is the case in the " lowland " variety. On 

 Cuban one occasionally comes across female specimens of the 

 upland very closely resembling those of the lowland. 



Measurements of a stretched skin were : 



Head and body 3 ft. 8| in. 



Tail 5 „ 



Distribution. — Pelzeln's gazelle is only found in the desert 

 maritime regions, being replaced about twenty miles from the 

 coast by Speke's. Specimens have been obtained further inland, 

 but never beyond the natural barrier of the Golis Range. 



Habits. — Like Speke's gazelle, they are usually found in small 

 families of four or five individuals, and are very easy to approach. 

 They browse on the stunted acacias so common on the maritime 

 plain, and other short stubbly plants, and seem to require little or 

 no water. Like G. spekei they seem to prefer stony ground, 

 where there is little or no bush. 



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