THE DEER, ANTELOPE AND GAZEL. 109 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE DEER, ANTELOPE AND GAZEL. 



THE DEER. 



The African Deer is not as large as his brethren in 

 France, and has a deeper color and rougher coat. They are 

 only found in the province of Constantine and three districts 

 to the east : tfiose f Bone, Calle and Tebessa. 



In the first, the deer inhabit the Beni-Salah and Ouled- 

 Bechiah mountains, which are covered with magnificent 

 forests of evergreen and live oaks ; in the second, they are 

 found on the borders of the lakes situated near the sea-coast ; 

 in the third, they have taken up their abode in a pine forest 

 which the Arabs call Ghit-Choueni (Robber's wood), which 

 is enclosed by three mountains, forming a triangle — the 

 Ouenza on the east, the Bou Kradera on the south, and the 

 Guelf on the west. 



The forest is on a level plain, and though without any 

 paths, makes very good hunting ground. I have hunted 

 deer in it in company with the Mahatlah and Ouled-Sidi-Abid 

 tribes with greyhounds that chase down the game, and hold 

 them at bay until we arrive to finish them with a ball. 



