MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 847 



No. XXXVII.— NOTE ON" THE ARABIAN GAZELLE (GAZELLA 



ARABIC A). 



For some four or five years now I have kept a small herd of these pretty 

 little animals in the large compound of the Aden prison. They have bred 

 regularly from the first year, but the deaths which take place in the herd from 

 one cause or another prevent the numbers rising inconveniently. 



This gazelle resembles clo3ely the Indian chinkara, but is on the whole 

 smaller and lighter built : there is a patch of brown colour on the bridge of the 

 nose which is absent in the head of a chinkara from Deesa which I have by 

 me : the horns are like the chinkara's, both male and female. They make 

 charming pets, and my herd all come to a whistle every morning for their corn, 

 and I am in the habit of asking people in to see them arrive at a gallop as soon 

 as they hear the whistle. 



The bucks are very pugnacious, and the present master of the herd has 

 killed two rivals this year, a great loss, as both were fine bucks and had been 

 reared in the prison. In both cases the base of the skull was fractured. The 

 does conceal the fawn when first born in a depression in the ground. Both 

 bucks and does are in the habit of scraping deep soup plate-like hollows in the 

 ground in which they lie at night, and the whole herd have a great preference 

 for spending the night near the military guard at the prison gate or close by 

 the beat of the warders on night duty in the interior of the prison. 



The young fawn lying in a depression as described is almost certain to escape 

 ordinary observation. With chin extended on the ground and ears flattened to 

 the side of the neck, it will allow you to handle it freely for the first few days 

 of its life, but after about the fourth day will spring from its form and make 

 off like a hare. The mothers seem to distinguish very definitely between 

 strangers and those whom they know, as they will allow any of the prison 

 staff to approach and handle the fawn without any further demonstration 

 than a few snorts. With strangers and dogs it is necessary for the party to 

 carry light whips, as the little antelope charges right home and the horns of the 

 doe are as sharp as spears. 



One of the old does when she has a new arrival and has hidden it will wait 

 about the prison gate jealously inspecting arrivals, and if they shew any inten- 

 tion of approaching her treasure, she charges at once. Even with me this doe 

 is very savage at such times, though, as a rule, she will feed from my hand. 



Every morning at daybreak the herd takes a long gallop round and round 

 the compound. They gallop one behind the other, the buck being, as a rule, the 

 last. I have noticed that when alarmed and galloping away they erect a ruff of 

 hair on the buttocks. Is this meant to assist their comrades in following them 

 in rapid flight by rendering them more conspicuous ? 



The early morning gallop is interesting. It is always done daily, and there 

 must be some reason for it beyond pure lightheadedness. Is it possibly the 

 custom of these animals when wild to leave their sleeping ground in this way 

 to avoid beasts of prey ? They seldom seem to move at night. 



