CLARKE'S ANTELOPE 



883 



ceeding fifteen inches in length. This gazelle is also distinguished from the preced- 

 ing by the broad dark brown band on the flanks, dividing the fawn color of the 

 body from the white of the belly. 



The largest of all the group is the swift gazelle (G. mohr), which 

 is a West- African species from Senegal, standing upward of thirty- 

 two inches at the withers, and still higher at the rump. Allied to this is the dama 

 gazelle (G. dama), from the Sudan, with relatively-short lyrate horns, and no dark 

 band on the flanks. Another fine species is the aoul (G. scemmerringi) inhabiting 

 the lowlands of Somaliland, and also found in Abyssinia and the Sudan. In the 

 swift gazelle the length of the horns may be twelve inches, while in the aoul or 

 Soemmerring's gazelle this varies from about twelve to upward of nineteen and one- 

 half inches. The height of the latter species at the shoulder is about thirty inches. 

 It is characterized by its very massive lyrate horns, marked with about eighteen 

 rings, and may be distinguished from the dama by its longer ears, bordered with 

 black externally, and the more strongly-defined and nearly black markings on the 

 face. This is the finest of the Somaliland gazelles, and was formerly found in small 

 herds close to the shore. 



CLARKE'S ANTELOPE 



Genus Ammodorcas 



Nearly allied to the true gazelles is a remark- 

 able antelope {Ammodorcas darkei], recently dis- 

 covered in Somaliland, which serves to connect 

 the preceding with the following species. 

 Clarke's antelope, while having the facial mark- 

 ings of the gazelles, is distinguished by the regu- 

 lar upward and forward curvature of the rather 

 short horns, which are ringed in front at the 

 base. The females are hornless, and the skull 

 is intermediate between that of the gazelles and 

 the under-mentioned gerenuk. The neck is very 

 long, and the tail thin and long. The number of 

 rings on the horn varies from five to ten. The 

 general color is a deep cinnamon, darker than in 

 any of the true gazelles. These antelopes ap- 

 pear to be local in Somaliland, but are said to be 

 common in parts of the interior. Mr. Clarke 

 states that when running they throw the tail up- 

 ward and forward, and at the same time incline 

 the long neck backward, so that the two look 

 as if they would touch each other. It is locally 

 known as the dibatag. 



HEAD OF CLARKE'S ANTELOPE- 



(After Thomas.) 



