306 CAPT. H. G. C. SWAYNK ON THE [May 3, 



animal. It is a grass-feeder, and lives in the open plains or in 

 scattered bush, but never in thick jungle, and it prefers flat ground. 



The white hindquarters can be seen from a great distance, making 

 a herd of Aoul look like a flock of sheep in the haze of the plains. 



I have never seen Aoul on the Golis Range, but in the Hartebeeste 

 ground beyond they are common, and may often be seen in large 

 herds along with the herds of Hartebeestes. 



The Aoul are the most stupid and eas_v to shoot of all the Somali 

 Antelopes, and their habits are identical with those of the Indian 

 Blackbuck ; but the Aoul is not to be compared with theBlackbuck 

 for beauty or grace of movement. 



Aoul often make long jumps when going away, and are apparently 

 a near relative of the Cape Springbuck. I have never seen them 

 spring vertically to anything like the height to which the Indian 

 Blackbuck will spring. Presumably it is done to get a better view 

 of the plain. 



Aoul are inquisitive and will follow a caravan. If fired at they 

 make off across the front at racing speed, drawing up in a troop now 

 and then to gaze. 



If much meat is required, it is easy in scattered bush to run into 

 a large herd and shoot several. A large herd becomes confused, as 

 the leaders cannot be seen in bush. 



The bucks with a herd will often be seen fighting or chasing each 

 other about at speed as Blackbuck do. Solitary bucks are sometimes 

 found far from any herd. 



Aoul can live a long way from water. Near the coast they often 

 come down close to the shore, possibly to obtain salt. 



A wounded Aoul buck does not hide, but will lie down in the 

 most open spot he can find, and will generally have a circle of jackals 

 waiting round him. Aoul can easily be shot at dusk, when they 

 are apt to blunder close to a caravan. 



The horns vary in shape, generally being lyrated, sometimes 

 pointing forward like the Gerenouk horns. They are often mal- 

 formed, and seldom have much symmetry. The largest pair I have 

 seen measured 17 inches ; the average is about 14 inches, following 

 the curve. 



I once saw a herd of about fifteen young fawns of this Antelope 

 gathered together a mile away from the rest of the herd. 



7 & 8. The Gazelles. 



The Coast Gazelle {Gazella pehelni). \ „ j^ 2)ero 

 The Big-nosed Gazelle {G. spekii). J 



The ordinary Coast Gazelle almost exactly resembles the Arabian 

 and the Indian Gazelle (G. beiinetti). The other, the Big- or 

 Flabby-nosed Gazelle, inhabits the elevated country, commencing 

 about 35 miles from the coast. 



I have shot numbers of Gazelles for food at various times, and 

 have always noticed that the Flabby-nosed Gazelle has a much 

 thicker and longer coat than the Coast Gazelle. Tliis is evidently 



