6l8 UNGULATA. 



district of Africa. It extends from the Barbary States to the Desert of 

 Arabia, and from the Mediterranean to the plains of Central Africa. 

 Wherever vegetation is found in the desert, the Gazelle is seen in large 

 numbers, but it is rare either in the rich river-bottoms, or in the moun- 

 tain ranges. A rolling, sandy district, where the mimosas grow thickly, 

 form its favorite haunts. In Kordofan herds of fifty have been observed, 

 but usually the troop consists of less than ten members. But, although 

 they are moving about all day, except during the burning noon-tide 

 hours, the Gazelles are not easily discovered. Their coat resembles 

 closely the color of the soil, and renders it difficult for any but a native 

 of the desert to detect them. At the first sign of danger the herd bounds 

 away as if in sport. Every movement is graceful. They may be seen in 

 play leaping up from one to two yards from the ground over each other's 

 backs, or skipping over stones in their path. All their senses are acute, 

 their scent is remarkable, their sight keen, their intelligence great. 

 Harmless and timid as they are, they are by no means so devoid of 

 courage as is often supposed. Combats take place even in their herds. 

 With all other animals they are willing to be friends ; but the leopard 

 and the lion do not reciprocate with good feeling. The Gazelle makes no 

 resistance to such enemies ; against weaker ones the herd defends itself 

 by forming a circle with horns pointed out. They are well aware of the 

 advantages of association, and seem to be inspired with feelings of 

 natural attachment to each other. 



The eye of the Gazelle is large, soft, and lustrous. The color of the 

 coat is a light-fawn, deepening into a dark-brown band on the flanks 

 which forms a line of demarcation between the fawn color of the back 

 and the pure white of the abdomen. The face is marked with a dark- 

 brown and a white streak, running from each horn to the muzzle. 



There are scvoitcoi species recognized in the genus Gazella, and 

 almost as many varieties not entitled to the dignity of species. Among 

 them, the most beautiful is the i\riel Gazelle. 



The Ariel is much darker than the Dorcas Gazelle. It is found in 

 Syria and Arabia, and as it is not onlv a most graceful and elegant 

 animal in appearance, but is also docile and gentle in temper, it is held 

 in great estimation as a domestic jiet, and may be frequently seen run- 

 ning about the houses at its own will. So exquisitely gcaceful are the 

 movements of the Ariel Gazelle, and with such light activity does it 

 traverse the ground, that it seems almost to set at defiance the laws of 



