GOA OR TIBETAN GAZELLE 



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GOA or TIBETAN GAZELLE (Gazella picticaudata). 



The true gazelles, from which the springbuck is now separated as a 

 genus by itself {Antidorcas), form a very extensive group of delicately 

 built antelopes of easy definition. They are of medium or rather small 

 size, with the muzzle of ordinary shape, the neck not unduly elongated, 

 and no fold containing a crest of long erectile hairs down the middle 

 of the back. To suit the nature of their haunts, their coloration is 

 generall}- of a sandy hue, with the under parts white, and the face in 

 most cases marked with parallel dark and light longitudinal streaks ; 

 dark bands being also frcquentl)- present on the rump and on the 

 flanks to separate the tawny of the back from the white beneath. The 

 knees are very generally furnished with brush-like tufts of long, stiff 

 hairs ; and the tail is cither short or of medium length. With the 

 exception of four species, horns are present in both sexes ; those of the 

 males being stout, distinctly ridged, and generally of about the same 

 length as the head, although occasionally much longer. Except at the 

 tips, they curve backwards, so as to present an anteriorly convex 

 lower portion, above which they are generally more or less curved 

 forwards and upwards. Gazelles have a wider geographical distribution 

 than any other genus of antelopes, and are, for the most part, 

 inhabitants of more or less desert regions, or their confines. 



The Tibetan goa belongs to a small and aberrant group of the 

 genus in which the tail is very short, the usual dark and light streaks 

 on the face are wanting, and the females are hornless. As a species, it 



