THE GAZELLS. 39 



both, and yet cannot precisely be referred to either ; 

 and under this description comes the Gazells. 



THE GAZELLS. 



The Gazells, of which there are several kinds, can- 

 not positively be attached either to the goat or deer. 

 Like the former, they have hollow horns that never 

 fall, and prefer feeding upon shrubs to the most luxu- 

 riant grass. In size and in form they resemble the roe- 

 buck, and in the colour and nature of their hair : they 

 have likewise the same cavity under their eyes, which 

 so peculiarly distinguishes animals of that race. 



Notwithstanding the resemblance which seems to 

 subsist between the gazells, the goat, and the deer, there 

 are several distinct marks to be found, the most striking 

 of which I shall briefly explain. Their horns are an- 

 nulated or ringed round, and are marked with longitu- 

 dinal depressions extending from the bottom to their 

 point : they have bunches of hair upon their fore-legs, 

 and a streak of black, red, or brown running along the 

 lower part of their sides : most of them are brown upon 

 the back, and white under the belly, with a black stripe 

 running between : their eyes are so exquisitely soft and 

 expressive, that lovers and poets formerly thought it a 

 compliment to the fair, to say their eyes were as beau- 

 tiful as the animals of that race. The hinder legs of 

 this creature are longer than the front, which enables it 

 to ascend and descend with ease ; and they are cloven- 

 hoofed, like the sheep. Naturalists vary in their opi- 

 nions respecting these animals. Mr. BufFon conceives 

 there are twelve different kinds; the first of which he 

 terms the Gazella, which resembles the roebuck in shape 

 and size ; though the horns are black and hollow like 

 the goat's, and, like that animal's, are never shed. Tht; 



d4 



