ORDER RUMINANTIA. 165 



down or up to the smallest surface that will contain their 

 collected feet with perfect firmness ; but the speed of those 

 who frequent the plains, and more particularly of the 

 swiftest species, consists in the alternate action of three or 

 four strokes of a gallop, terminated by a long bound, re- 

 peated in constant succession and producing a beautiful 

 effect : of others it is an uniform stretch termed running. 

 Though vigilant and timid by nature, the gregarious 

 species have the same curiosity which Deer and Sheep 

 evince at the sight of strange objects ; flying with prodi- 

 gious speed, then stopping and turning to gaze. Their 

 voice is mostly weak, and seldom heard: it consists in 

 some in a feeble bleeting, in others it is a groaning or 

 whistling sound, and there is one which barks so as to 

 deceive the unwary traveller into a belief that he is near 

 the abode of man, when in fact it is the proof of his being 

 benighted in the deepest recesses of the wood. 



In a wild state it seems that each species feeds on a few 

 favourite plants ; they pick rather than browse : some, 

 like several species of Deer, nibble the leaves of trees, 

 Acacias, Mimosas, and shrubs. The gregarious keeping on 

 the open plains, select grasses and their roots, heaths, 

 wild tritica, and are not averse to bitter succulents and in- 

 toxicating plants, being even attracted by the smoke of 

 tobacco. There is a disposition in several species to dung 

 in one place, which arises probably from the extreme deli- 

 cacy of their sense of smelling. In general their venison 

 is lean, and savours of a musky or a Caprine smell ; but 

 the flesh of others is praised, and all afford the usual meal 

 to the larger nocturnal Carnivora, and even to the Eagle. 

 The females, particularly of the gregarious species, are 

 gentle and confident when reduced to domesticity, but the 

 males, at least in the rutting season, are vicious and sub- 

 ject to sudden capricious fits. The beauty of their soft and 

 large dark eyes, has long been the theme of Arabian and 



