KUNGL. SV. VET. AKABEMIEKS HANDLINGAB. BAND 48. N:0 5. 167 



definite opinion about certain specimens. For instance, a typical head of 0. g. robertsi 

 is very easy to recognize on its horns the tips of which point outwards and backward 

 and thus have a great spread. Horns of 0. g. robertsi about which there could be 

 no mistake I saw brought from Sotik. On the other hand it is not uncommon that 

 a dispute arises whether a certain pair of horns shall be regarded as 0. g. granti, or 

 G. g. robertsi, and I remember that I have been in uncertainty myself about this 

 when once called to settle a controversy on such a matter. This proves that there 

 are intermediate links between these races. 



The Grant Gazelle of the Athi plains near Nairobi, and in the southern Game- 

 reserve belongs to the typical 0. g. granti, while 0. g. fetersi with more parallel 

 horns, and the colour of the back reaching the root of the tail is found at lower 

 Tana and Sabaki rivers, thus nearer the coast. 



0. g. notata is said to live in the country »from the highlands southwards and 

 south-eastwards of Lake Rudolf to the Guaso Nyiro- valley and Mount Kenya » (Ly- 

 DEKKER 1. c. p. 262). Judging from this I expected to find the race mentioned in 

 the country round Guaso Nyiri. This was, however, not the case. The characteristic 

 of 0. g. notata, from which also the name is derived, is that it shall have the body- 

 markings »much intensified*. »Dark and light lateral bands much longer and broader, 

 the former nearly black and reaching forwards on to the shoulder, and backwards 

 nearly to the white rump-mark; the latter pale buff, and succeeded above by a second 

 dark band, lighter than the main lateral band, but distinctly darker than the centre 

 of the back. This second dark band united with the other behind the posterior end 

 of the light band. Pygal band black and very strongly defined* (Sclater & Thomas 

 1. c. p. 191). The Grant Gazelles on the acacia-steppe at Lekiundu river near but 

 south of Guaso Nyiri had, however, no such appearance, nor their congeners in the 

 thornbush on the northern side of the latter river. Instead of having intense markings 

 they were very pale all over, and the markings obsolete. There are two such sub- 

 species described viz O. g. brighti Thomas, and G. g. lacuum Neumann. The former 

 which Lydekker terms the Lado race is said to inhabit the country between Lake 

 Rudolph and Lado. The latter the Abaya race is from the surroundings of Lake 

 Abaya, or »vom Zuai-See bis zum Gandjule-See». G. g. brighti^ is fully described and 

 characterized by its pale colour and absence of dark lateral bands in all specimens 

 of any age. This race has also comparatively short horns and a »growth-boss» at 

 their anterior bases retained into adult hfe. About G. g. lacuum it is much more 

 difficult to get any clear idea. It is said to be somewhat smaller than G. g. granti 

 and provided with straight horns. The dark lateral band is said to be conspicuous 

 in young animals, and present but indistinct in old females. The dark pygal band 

 is said to be less developed than in G. g. granti and the white rump-patch smaller. 

 The horns shall be longer than in G. g. brighti. 



Considering all it appears most likely that my specimens are more nearly related 

 to the race named G. g. lacuum than to any other but, although in the following I 



1 Proc. Zool. Soc, London 1900, p. 805. 



