168 THE HY^NA AND THE JACKAL. 



of Africa issue from their caverns or their lairs, and wander 

 into the Desert (properly so called) in pursuit of prey. The hyaena 

 and the jackal venture there more willingly. We know that these 

 carnivora only attack living animals at the last extremity; their food 

 is the dead and even putrid flesh; it is a nutriment which costs them 

 less trouble to obtain, and probably, also, most pleases their taste. 

 Thus, it is by no means an uncommon occurrence to see them in the 

 towns and q' sours, devouring the carrion, or in the cemeteries disinter- 

 ring the corpses; they follow also in the Desert the caravans and 

 detachments of troops on the march, and at night prowl around their 

 encampments, in the hope of some windfall, which they seldom expect 

 in vain, but which the dogs, the vultures (Cathartes percnopterus 

 and vultur fulvus), the gypaetos, and the crows rarely fail to dispute 

 with them. 



The region of the table-lands, or Saharan Steppes, the valleys of 

 Erosion, and certain parts of the Gobi Persia, Syria, and Arabia 

 which are not absolutely deprived of rain, or which are refreshed by 

 mountain-streams, nourish several species of mammifers : gazelles, 

 hedgehogs, porcupines, hares, offering both to man and the carnivora 

 an abundant variety of game. Of all these animals, the most interest- 

 ing are the gazelles, several species of which inhabit the desert region. 

 I shall refer in the first place to the gazelle properly so called, or 

 Antilope dorcas, so remarkable for the grace of his movements, his 

 slender limbs, and the expressive gentleness of his eyes. This beauti- 

 ful species is common in Central Sahara, Nubia, and Asia. He lives 

 in numerous troops, is of small stature, with a yellowish or yellow- 

 brown skin on the back, and a white belly, a brown or blackish belt 

 marking the sides. The horns, larger and stronger in the male than 

 in the female, have a double curve, are lyrated, and without projec- 

 tions. The Ariel Gazelle is about twenty inches high at the shoulder. 

 The Gazella Scemmeringii belongs to Abyssinia and Sennaar. The 

 gazelle nanguer is found as far as Morocco, Nubia, and in the Cor- 

 dofou ; some varieties occur at the Senegal. Finally, the oryx- 

 leucoryx inhabits Tropical Africa, and rarely makes his appearance in 



