The Dik-Diks 265 



Salt's Dik-Dik (Madoqua saltiana) 

 Dik-dik of Kassala Natives ; Beni Israel of Arabs ; Atro of Abyssinians 

 This is a very small slenderly-built antelope, with a curiously-elongated 

 nose, the point of which, instead of being bare, is covered with hair. The 

 crown of the head is tufted, the tail extremely short. The horns of the 

 male, which are annulated for rather more than half their length, are 

 from 2 to 3 inches long ; the female is hornless. In general colouring 

 this diminutive creature, which stands but from 14 to 15 inches in height, 

 is of a rufous-fawn, the neck grayish, the chin and under parts whitish ; 

 the face and legs are rufous. The range of this dik-dik lies principally in 

 Abyssinia— more especially towards the littoral— and Somaliland. It is 

 not very well known to English sportsmen, and but few specimens have 

 been brought home. It is fond of bushy country, and is seldom found 

 at a greater altitude than 6000 feet. Found singly or in pairs. 



Swayne's Dik-Dik [Madoqua swaynei) 



Somali Name, Sakdro gwyu 



This dik-dik was found by Major H. G. C. Swayne (author of Seventeen 

 Trips to Somaliland) inhabiting the northern portion of Somaliland. It is even 

 tinier than Salt's dik-dik, and a male weighs no more than 6 lbs., the female 

 even less. Like the rest of the genus, it is extremely swift, and only the very 

 young ones can be run down by the athletic Somalis. In colouring it has a 

 general resemblance to Salt's dik-dik. The habits of this antelope are, accord- 

 ing to Major Swayne, like those of the hare. It nibbles the young shoots of 

 mimosas, likes to be near water, and drinks at mid-day and just after nightfall. 

 These dik-diks lie very close, and when disturbed dash off with two or three 

 sharp whistling notes of alarm, often disturbing heavier game. Although 

 monogamous antelopes, as many as eighty have been seen in a single day. 



