THE GAZELLE. 481 



the ears are long, narrow, and pointed; the eyes are bright 

 hazel, large, and prominent j the horns are between nine and 

 ten inches long, round, black, lyre-shaped, and are possessed 

 by both sexes, but the female's are smaller than those of the 

 male. 



Gazelles live in immense herds upon the open plains, where 

 they browse upon the saline and pungent herbage. 



Mr. J. Wilkinson says, that during his stay at Guttar, in 

 Upper Egypt, " the gazelles were so much pressed for water, 

 that they ran through our encampment in the valley, and 

 having satisfied their thirst returned the same way, for it was 

 the only road to the watering-place ; and these animals always 

 prefer the valleys to crossing the mountains, unless in those 

 parts where they have beaten tracks. This is even the case 

 when closely pressed by dogs 3 and I have known them return 

 and pass their pursuers when they found that the valley was 

 nearly at an end."* 



The graceful symmetry of its figure, the soft expression of 

 its quick, bright eyes, and the elasticity of its gait, are constant 

 themes of admiration, and have induced the Arabian poets to 

 regard this animal as the emblem of maiden beauty. 



* Journal of the Geographical Society (1832), vol. ii. p. 49. 



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