GAZELLE.—Gazella Dorcas. 
throughout the life of the animal. Indeed, the Antelopes are allied very closely to the 
sheep and goats, and, in some instances, are very goat-like in external form. In all cases 
the Antelopes are light and elegant of body, their limbs are gracefully slender, and are 
furnished with small cloven hoofs. The tail is never of any great length, and in many 
species is very short. The horns, set above the eyebrows, are either simply conical 
or are bent so as to resemble the two horns of the ancient lyre, and are therefore termed 
“lyrate” in technical language. 
THE well-known GAZELLE is found in great numbers in Northern Africa, where it lives 
in herds of considerable size, and is largely hunted by man and beast. 
Trusting to its swift limbs for its safety, the Gazelle will seldom, if ever, attempt to resist 
a foe, unless it be actually driven to bay in some spot from whence it cannot escape ; but 
prefers to flee across the sandy plains, in which it loves to dwell, with the marvellous speed 
for which it has long been proverbial. The herd seems to be actuated by a strong spirit of 
mutual attachment, which preserves its members from being isolated from their companions, 
and which, in many instances, is their only safeguard against the attacks of the smaller 
predaceous animals. The lion and leopard can always find a meal whenever they can 
steal upon a band of Gazelles without being discovered by the sentries which watch the 
neighbourhood with jealous precaution, for “the Gazelles are too weak to withstand the 
attack of such terrible assailants, and do not even attempt resistance. 
If, however, the insidious foe is detected by the eye or scent of the sentinel, his chance 
of a dinner is hopeless for a while. The alarm is instantly given by the animal whose 
acute senses have discovered the near presence of the dreaded enemy, and the whole herd 
immediately take to flight, skimming over the ground with such wondrous rapidity that 
neither lion nor leopard would be able to overtake their flying steps. 
When opposed by less formidable enemies, the Gazelles can bid defiance to their 
assailants by gathering themselves into a compact circular mass, the females and the 
young being placed in the centre, and the outer circle being composed of the males, 
all presenting their horns towards the intruder. They then “form a dense phalanx of 
sharply pointed weapons, arranged on strictly military principles, and being the prototype 
of the spear-phalanx of ancient warfare, and ‘the “ square ” of more modern tactics. 
