THE BEIRA 

 Dorcatragns melanotis, Menges 



Somali name, Beifd 



Description. — This beautiful little antelope is peculiar to the 

 Somali country. Herr Menges, from whose specimens it was first 

 described, was the first sportsman to shoot it, although Swayne 

 had known of its existence and had actually seen it some time 

 previously. Its chief peculiarities consist in the very large ears 

 which in the male completely hide the short horns, rendering them 

 indistinguishable from the females at a short distance, and the 

 round, padded hoofs on which they can so nimbly and so silently 

 elude the sportsman. The general colour of the Beira is a glossy 

 grey with a tinge of pink in it. Warm pinkish fawn (Cox). 

 Underneath and on the lower part of the sides the colour is first 

 whitish, then pinkish fawn, and the latter is separated from the 

 grey of the back by a distinct stripe, as is seen in the gazelles. 

 This stripe, which is of a dark purplish grey, is caused by the 

 blending of the grey of the back and the pinkish fawn of the sides. 

 The tail, which is rather short and somewhat bushy, is of the same 

 colour as the back, while the legs, lower part of haunches and 

 head, with the exception of the frontal portion, which is rufous, are 

 of a fawn colour. The hair of the back has the appearance as 

 though it had been singed. Round the eyes there is an indistinct 

 whitish ring. The ears, which are of the same colour as the head, 

 have an edging of dark brown or black hairs. The hoofs, some- 

 what larger in the fore than hind feet, are furnished underneath 

 with cartilaginous pads, which not only prevent them slipping 

 when running or jumping on rocky ground, but assist them 

 materially, when hunted, in getting away silently. The horns, 

 which seldoni exceed 4J in. in length, are only found in the 



65 5 



