xxix ANIMALS OF THE BACK BLOCKS 291 



Indeed, at Marsabit a female has been shot with horns 

 measuring 40 inches. A fair average head would be 

 anything over 32 inches. The bulls have horns on an 

 average rather shorter but more massive than the cows. 

 It is difficult to distinguish the two sexes, but a solitary 

 animal or an outlying sentinel is pretty certain to be 

 a bull. 



The Fringe-eared Oryx {Callotis) is somewhat 

 smaller and has less distinct colouring. The ears are 

 larger and more pendant and the tips are decorated by 

 a tuft of dark hair. Any oryx found south of the Athi 

 is of this species. Fringe-ears are found round Simba 

 and Makindu and in all the bush country to the south, 

 in all the bush country round Kitui, at intervals 

 throughout the Taru desert and very plentifully on the 

 Serengati plains and in the southern Game Reserve. 

 As one approaches Lake Natron the characteristics of 

 the species get less marked, and notably the ears are 

 smaller and less fringed. The average horns of the 

 Callotis would measure two inches less than those of 

 the Beisa. 



Waller s Gazelle or the Gerenuk is certain to be 

 found in the most sandy and arid portions of the Pro- 

 tectorate, wherever there is bush with any approach to 

 green foliage. His long neck and long legs enable him 

 to reach high up any bush, and to acquire any succulent 

 tit-bit he stands on his hind legs, placing his forelegs 

 on a convenient bough. The gerenuk is very shy 

 or rather perhaps his long neck and legs, small head 

 and dull, monotonous colouring nearly always enable 

 him to see the hunter before the latter sees him. 

 After a short glimpse he seems to fade away between 

 the bushes with head carried straight in front of him. 

 He is common in the Serengati plains and the 



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