BEIRA 169 
Head of Beira. 
The BEIRA (Dorcatragus melanotis). 
Betra or Baira, Somali. 
Although at one time classed with the gazelles, this peculiar little 
Somali antelope is considered to be best placed in the neighbourhood 
of the dik-diks. The beira is characterised by the moderately long 
and spike-like horns of the bucks ; but its most striking peculiarity is 
the great size of its ears, which led its discoverer, Mr. Menges, to 
describe it as a species of klipspringer. Another noticeable feature 
is the large size of the rounded hoofs, which are supported on globular 
pads. In colour, the upper-parts and legs are creyish fawn, with a 
tinge of pink; a darker band defining the fawn from the white of the 
under-parts, which (the white) is continued down the inner surfaces of 
the limbs as far as the knees and hocks. The head, from the ears to 
the nose, is bright rufous. Height at shoulder about 23 inches. 
Viscount Edmond de Poncins writes that “beira are good _ hill- 
climbers, and keep on rocky ground. The general shape is slender, 
the legs are long, the head is kept erect, the ears are very big and 
broad, shaped like the dik-dik’s, eyes big and dark, nostrils black. 
“Colour a sort of greyish blue, a bit like what we call in French 
gorge-de-pigeon, and exactly matching the colour of the ground, so, 
unless they are on the move, it is difficult to distinguish them. Unlike 
a gazelle, the tail is generally kept down. Horns resemble those of 
the klipspringer, but curve forward slightly more.” From nose to root 
