THE GAZELLE. 



throughout the life of the animal. Indeed, the Antelopes are allied very closely to the 

 sheep and goats, and, in some instances, are very goat-like in external form. In all cases 

 the Antelopes are light and elegant of body, their limbs are gracefully slender, and are 

 furnished with small cloven hoofs. The tail is never of any great length, and in many 

 species is very short. The horns, set above the eyebrows, are either simply conical 

 or are bent so as to resemble the two horns of the ancient lyre, and are therefore termed 

 " lyrate " in technical language. 



THE well-known GAZELLE is found in great numbers in Northern Africa, where it lives 

 in herds of considerable size, and is largely hunted by man and beast. 



Trusting to its swift limbs for its safety, the Gazelle will seldom, if ever, attempt to 

 resist a foe, unless it be actually driven to bay in some spot from whence it cannot 

 escape ; but prefers to flee across the sandy plains, in which it loves to dwell, with the 

 marvellous speed for which it has long been proverbial. The herd seems to be actuated 

 by a strong spirit of mutual attachment, which preserves its members from being isolated 



GAZELLE. Gaze I la Dorcas. 



from their companions, and which, in many instances, is their only safeguard against the 

 attacks of the smaller predaceous animals. The lion and leopard can always find a meal 

 whenever they can steal upon a band of Gazelles without being discovered by the sentries 

 which watch the neighborhood with jealous precaution, for the Gazelles are too weak to 

 withstand the attack of such terrible assailants, and do not even attempt resistance. 



If, however, the insidious foe is detected by the eye or scent of the sentinel, his chance 

 of a dinner is hopeless for a while. The alarm is instantly given by the animal whose 

 acute senses have discovered the near presence of the dreaded enemy, and the whole herd 

 immediately take to flight, skimming over the ground with such wondrous rapidity that 

 neither lion nor leopard would be able to overtake their flying steps. 



When opposed by less formidable enemies, the Gazelles can bid defiance to their 

 assailants by gathering themselves into a compact circular mass, the females and the 

 young being placed in the centre, and the outer circle being composed of the males, 

 all presenting their horns towards the intruder. They then form a dense phalanx of 

 sharply pointed weapons, arranged on strictly military principles, and being the prototype 

 of the spear-phalanx of ancient warfare, and the " square " of more modern tactics. 



