THE ANTELOPES 



22 I 



At the present day the saiga is only found in Europe on the plains between the Don 

 and the Volga, but to the east of the Ural River its range extends over the Kirghiz Stepp 

 and the high plains of all Western Siberia. Living in open country, and having the senses of 

 hearing, sight, and scent all highly developed, the saiga is a difficult animal to approach, and 

 can only be successfully stalked by an expert hunter. In summer it is usually met with in 

 small, scattered bands, which, when driven southwards by snow and cold, are collected into 

 considerable herds in the more southerly portions of its range. In very severe winters whole 

 herds have been known to perish in snow-drifts, and in such inclement seasons large numbers 

 are also killed by the natives. The flesh of the sai^a is said to resemble mutton, and is held 

 in much esteem. 



Tin. Gazelles 



We now come to the Gazelles, among which are comprised many of the best known 

 and most beautiful of the small or medium-sized antelopes. In the true gazelles both sexes 

 generally carry horns. Indeed, this rule is universal in those of Africa and Arabia; and there 



By firmlsihn of Hirr Carl Hngtnbtii"\ {Harnh:.'. 



GOITRED GAZELLES FROM MESOPOTAMIA 



These animals are inhabitants of rocky and desert ground. They are often kept tame by the ivandering jirabs 



are only four species known — all Asiatic — in which the females are hornless : vis. the TIBETAN 



Gazelle, Prejevalski's Gazelle, the Mongolian Gazelle, and the Persian Gazelle. 



The range of the various species belonging to this large group is very extensive, comprising 

 the whole of Northern and Eastern Africa, Arabia, and Western and Central Asia, as well as 

 Mongolia and India. The gazelles are inhabitants of the open plains and arid desert regions 

 of the Old World, and, although sometimes met with in tracts of country where there is a 

 certain amount of scattered bush or open stunted forest, are never found in any kind of jungle 

 or thick cover. 



On the sandy plains of North-western Africa are found the RED-FRONTED Gazelle of 

 Senegal and Gambia; the little-known Aim irk GAZELLE of South-western Morocco; and the 

 DAMA GAZELLE, a species which has been known to naturalists ever since the time of Button. 

 A near ally of the last-named animal is the RED-NECKED GAZELLE of Dongola and Senaar. In 

 North-eastern Africa are found the large and handsome SOEMMERRING'S GAZELLE ; the ISABEl LA 

 GAZED E, of the coastlands of the Red Sea; HEUGLIN'S Gazelle ; PELZELN'S Gazelle, of the 

 maritime plains of Northern Somaliland ; and SPEKE'S Gazelle, of the interior of the same 

 country ; whilst farther south the group is represented by the large and beautiful Grant's 

 15 



