50 MY SOMALI BOOK 



preserved skin after a time loses much of the erev 

 effect, becoming decidedly browner. 



Except that it is far more local in its distribution, 

 the dibatag affects much the same sort of country as 

 the gerenuh, avoiding the open plain or very thick 

 bush. Its habits too are similar ; but unlike the 

 gerenuFs shame-faced gait, the dibaiag trots away 

 with his head well up and a jaunty carriage, a bizarre 

 effect being afforded by the comparatively long tail 

 which it carries up in the air, often curving over its 

 back as if to meet the head. Slenderly built, it is 

 altogether an elegant little creature. 



^^i^jf 









■— .^s 



Back to Libah Gutair, where we stayed one day, 

 and I expended a good many cartridges. I had a 

 shot at a gerenuh with a fine head, facing me at about 

 150 yards, and missed him ; then sat down and made 

 a misfire. Fired again, missed ! The buck tossed his 

 head and came about ten paces nearer to investigate. 

 I had two more steady sitting shots and missed again — 

 the gerenuh still interested. Before I could reload 

 and miss him for the fifth time, however, he remem- 

 bered an engagement elsewhere and, with a wave of 

 his tail as he tucked it safely away between his legs, 

 said Ta ! Ta ! I looked at Elmi. Elmi said, " Never 



