188.i.] ANTELOPES OF SOMALI-LAND. 931 



nearly due south for about 300 miles, returnino; to our starting- 

 point on the IGth of the following April. For the first eight miles 

 after leaving the coast we crossed a flat sandy plain, thinly covered 

 with dwarf Mimosas, and then ascended a plateau or tableland of 

 about 30U0 feet above the sea-level. 



This plateau extends to the south for about 280 miles, and there 

 ends as abruptly as on the north, the descent on both sides being very 

 rapid. At the south margin of the plateau runs the Webbe-Shebeyli 

 or Haynes River, through an immense plain. The banks of this river 

 are extensively cultivated by the natives, who grow corn, beans, and 

 water-melons. To any one wishing to know more of the country I 

 would recommend a reference to Mr. F. L. James's account of this 

 journey read before the Royal Geographical Society on the 29th of 

 June of the present year (see Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. 188.5, p. 62.5). 



The following Antelopes were met with daring our expedition. 

 Mr. Sclater has determined the species for me. 



1. Strepsiceros imberbis. {Lesser Koodoo). 



This beautiful little Koodoo is found on the northern slopes of the 

 plateau. It does not seem to differ much in its habits from the 

 larger Koodoo : it is fond of thick covert, and I do not think it 

 likely that it would be found very far from water. I exhibit a fine 

 head of a male. 



2. Strepsiceros kudu. {Greater Koodoo.) 



We did not meet with this species till we reached the southern 

 slopes of the plateau, where it was said by th'? natives to be fairly 

 plentifid. One example only was procured, a vety fine male. 



3. Oryx beisa. (Beisa Antelope.) 



This animal is highly prized by the Somali, as from its hide, vrhich 

 is very tough, are made their beautiful little shields, and its long 

 pointed horns are used for loosening the earth during the tedious 

 process of sinking wells. 



During the rainy season the natives hunt these Antelopes on 

 horseback, and they are easily ridden down, as they are then fat and 

 heavy and their feet sink deep into the wet earth. In the dry season, 

 owing, I suppose, to being hunted so much, it is extremely hard to 

 approach them, and when once disturbed they gallop a long way 

 without stopping. The head on the table is that of a female shot 

 on the plateau. 



4. Gazella walleri. {Waller s Gazelle.) 



I have here to-night heads of both male and female of this species. 

 The female is without horns. When seen from a distance this 

 Antelope might easily be mistaken for a Giraffe, on account of its 

 long thin neck. It was found to be fairly plentiful throughout our 

 journey. 



.5. Gazella spekii. {Speke's Gazelle.) 



These Gazelles are very plentiful on the low plain near Berbereh, 



