RUMINANTIA. 233 



der limbs ; small hoofs ; a short or moderate tail, covered with 

 elongated hairs at the base ; lyrate or conical horns, placed over 

 the eye brows." 



2d. Cervine Antelopes, " approaching the Deer in character. 

 They have a rather heavy, large body ; strong, slender*limbs ; 

 a long tail, cylindrical at the base, with the hair longer at the 

 end, often forming a compressed ridge." The muffle resembles 

 that of the Deer. 



3d. Goal-like Antelopes, having 4< a heavy body ; strong legs ; 

 large hoofs and false hoofs; very short tail, flat and hairy above ; 

 recurved, conical horns." 



The species in each of these groups are quite numerous; but 

 though all are handsome creatures, we must content ourselves 

 with noticing the more prominent. 



TRUE ANTELOPES. 



A. Dorcas. (Gr. dtyxofiat,, derkomai, to see.) The GAZELLE, 

 or the CORINNE. (Plate VII. fig. 19.) 



This is perhaps the most beautiful of all the Antelopes. Its 

 large, mild, and black eyes beam with lustre, and its light and 

 graceful figure has made it a favorite with Oriental poets. In 

 the sacred writings it is alluded to under the name of the Roe, 

 "swift upon the mountains." The Gazelle is common in the 

 northern parts of Africa, where large troops of them bound along 

 with such amazing fleetness that they seem bird-like. The Ariel 

 (A, Arabica\ a variety of this species, abounds in Arabia and 

 Syria. 



" The wild Gazelle o'er Judah's hills 



Exulting still may bound ; 

 And drink from all the living rills - . - 



That gush on holy ground." 



So swift is this animal that the greyhound is generally unable 

 to overtake it, unless aided by falcons which fly at its head, and 

 thus check its speed until the dogs regain their lost distance. In 

 some parts of Syria, the gazelle is taken by driving a herd into 

 an extended enclosure surrounded by a deep ditch. A few open- 

 ings are made through which the affrighted animals leap and fall 

 into the ditch, when they are easily taken. If pursued in the 

 open field, it flies to some distance, then stops to gaze a mo- 

 ment at the hunters, and again renews its flight. A flock 

 when attacked in a body, disperse in all directions, but soon 

 come together again, and when brought to bay, defend themselves 



