THE PA LAS ^ 887 



old males always remaining with the herds. According to Pallas, some members 



of the herd keep watch while the others sleep. Although the saiga, 



when first started, can run swiftly for a short distance, it soon becomes 



blown. When caught young these animals can be easily tamed, and will follow 



their owners about like a dog. 



Distribution ^ t ^ ie P resent day ^e range of the saiga embraces Southern Russia 

 and Southwestern Siberia, its headquarters being the Kirghiz Steppes. 

 A century ago the saiga extended, however, as far as the confines of Poland, and it is 

 now gradually retreating toward the east of the Volga. In summer the saiga wan- 

 ders as far north as the districts inhabited by the reindeer; while in winter it migrates 

 south, and thus comes in contact with the Persian gazelle. When we pass back to 

 the Pleistocene period, the saiga had a much more extensive range to the westward, 

 its fossilized remains having been obtained from the caverns and superficial deposits 

 of Hungary, Belgium and the south of France. Moreover, from the frontlet of a 

 male having been discovered in the gravels of Twickenham, it is evident that the 

 animal occasionally wandered as far as Britain. In Moravia there have been found 

 the remains of a saiga differing from the living species by having six, in place of 

 five, lower cheek-teeth. From the occurrence of saiga remains, together with those 

 of other Mammals now characteristic of the steppes, in Western Europe, it has been 

 inferred that steppe-like conditions and climate must formerly have prevailed over 

 portions of that area. 



PALAS 

 Genus sEpyceros 



The South-African antelope, known by the name of pala or impala (sEpyceros 

 melampus], is a rather large animal, standing a little over three feet in height, and 

 of a dark red color above, gradually shading into white below. There is no gland 

 on the face below the eye, and the feet are distinguished 

 by the total absence of the lateral hoofs. The horns of 

 the males are lyrate, widely divergent, and somewhat 

 spiral, with about a dozen complete and widely-separated 

 rings. The ordinary length of pala horns does not 

 exceed sixteen inches, but Mr. Selous records specimens of 

 twenty and twenty-one inches, measured in a straight line. 

 The pala is found throughout Southern and Southeast- 

 ern Africa. Mr. Selous states that these antelopes are 

 nowhere more plentiful than along the Chobe, and may 

 often be seen in herds of from twenty to one hundred 

 together. ' ' There are very few males in comparison 

 with the number of females, though I have sometimes 

 seen a herd composed entirely of rams, ten or fifteen in HEAD OF PALA. 



number. They are like thick corn along the river's bank, (After Selous -) 



and are seldom seen at a distance of more than a mile from water, and there is no 

 more certain sign of the proximity of water than the presence of impala antelopes. ' ' 



