308 ON THE ANTELOPES OF NORTHERN SOMALILAND. [May 3, 



They lie very close, and when disturbed they dart off at speed 

 with two or three sharp whistling alarm-notes uttered in quick 

 succession. This often gives the alarm to larger game. 



Three or four Sakaro may be seen together, seldom or never more. 



Young Sakaro are soon able to take care of themselves, and only 

 when very young can they be run down on foot by the Somalis, who 

 often catch them to eat. The Somalis, who are sensible in most 

 ways, are peculiar in that tliey do not eat birds, and know little 

 about them, calling them contemptuously "Sbimbir," the Arabic 

 for bird, but generally having no names for the different kinds. 

 They say birds are " Haram," or forbidden food. 



I have seen probably eighty Sakaro in the course of a day. Their 

 habits are those of the hare, and they live in similar ground. 



Thev nibble the young shoots of the mimosa. They like to be 

 near water, and go to drink at midday and just after nightfall. They 

 are especially lively in the afternoon and evening. 



10. The Klipspringer {Oreotragus saltator). 



Alakud. 



These Antelopes live in the most rugged mountains, poising them- 

 selves on large boulders, and leaping from rock to rock. They are 

 neither shy nor hard to shoot. 



Alakud go in twos and threes like Sakaro. The longest horns I 

 saw in Sonialiland were about three inches. The females have no 

 horns. 



11. Clarke's Gazelle (^»2moJo?Tas clarkei). 



Dibatag. 



Clarke's Gazelle is very local in its distribution, and is not found 

 nearer than Burao and the edge of the Haud. They are common 

 in parts of the Dolbahanta country. I have never had time to 

 shoot when in the country they inhabit, which has only lately been 

 opened up. Its likeness to the Gerenouk is remarkable. 



12. Beira. 



My brother, while with me in the Gadabursi country last year, 

 saw three specimens of an Antelope which the natives called 

 ''Beira," but he was not fortunate in obtainmg a shot. He de- 

 scribed it as a small reddish Antelope of the Klipspringer kind, the 

 same size, with little black horns, much laid back. The natives 

 said no Europeans had shot them. 



