194 ^^"">c of P^urope, W. & N. Asia & America 



gazelle, or goa [(urzcl/d pict/ciiiiiliitii), which has been tully described in the 

 Great iUiil Siiiti// Game of India^ Bui-/iia^ and 'Vthct, anil theretore needs no 

 turther mention on the present occasion, in spite ot the hict that it is prob- 

 ably tound in part ot the area coming within the province ot this volume. 

 Both are characterised by the extreme shortness oi the tail, the lack ot" 

 the usual tace-markings distinctive ot most gazelles, the absence ot horns in 

 the females, and the strongly marked backward curvature of those of the 

 males. Both, too, are ot comparatively small size, and have a white blaze 

 on the buttocks, while they also lack glands on the tace, and have the nasal 

 bones of the skull pointed instead of notched. 



In addition to a slight superiority in point ot size and certain differ- 

 ences in coloration, this species, which might well be called the Mongolian 

 goa, is readily distinguished from its ally by the abruptly inward hooking 

 ot the tips ot the horns ot the bucks. These, which are much compressed 

 and ot medium length and thickness, diverge regularly outwards and curve 

 as regularly backwards till near their tips, when they are bent sharply 

 inwards and somewhat upwards. Eleven inches is the maximum recorded 

 horn-length. 



Between 25 and 26 inches at the shoulder would seem to be the 

 approximate height attained by this gazelle. As in the Tibetan goa, the 

 ears are short and sharp. The general colour ot the hair on the upper-parts 

 of the body is deep fawn in summer, but pale tinely grizzled fawn in 

 winter, when the coat is much longer and rougher. The inner surface of 

 the ears, the under-parts, and a patch on the buttocks are pure white, the 

 white running on to the back on each side ot the tail, which is white save 

 for the upper surface, where it is fawn like the back, becoming browner 

 near the tip. There is also a brownish streak on the tront ot the tore- 

 limbs. 



This gazelle is an inhabitant of the Gobi desert of Mongolia and the 

 adjacent districts, being abundant in the neighbourhood ot Lake Koko-Nor, 



