248 MAMMALIA. 



destroj^er is, for instance, a Lion, it has thus opportunity to mako 

 choice of its victim, when it darts upon the poor creature, and the 

 terrified herd becomes scattered in flight. 



The Gazelle is ridden down by horsemen, or taken with the 

 assistance of Dogs (Fig. 82). Tame Gazelles, with nooses fastened 

 on their horns, are also let loose into the middle of a wild herd, 

 when many get entangled in these knots, and are captured. 



If taken young, and reared in captivity, the Gazelle becomes 

 domesticated and shows pleasure at being caressed ; seldom 

 attempting to take flight in order to regain its liberty, although 

 it doubtlessly repines when thus situated, for it languishes, and 

 refuses to give its master a jiosterity of slaves. 



There are other sj)ecies of Gazelle which live in Morocco, 

 Senegal, Nubia, and the Cape of Good Hope ; but any special 

 mention of them would be uninteresting. 



Saiga. — This genus is composed of several species of Ante- 

 lope, the males of which possess sjDiral and annulated horns, with 

 two or three curvatures, and without sharp edges. They have no 

 muzzle, but possess tear-pits ; the hair on their instep is arranged 

 in a brush-like foi'm ; they have inguinal pores, two teats, and a 

 short tuftless tail. 



Such, for instance, is the Saiga of Tartary {Saiga fartarica) 

 (Fig. 83) , which has a stouter form than the Gazelle, and a coat of 

 a light slate colour above and white underneath ; its horns are 

 long, bending backwards, and very much annidated. Its carti- 

 laginous muzzle is very long. 



These animals are verj' swift in their movements. It is said that 

 they can leap to a height of thirteen feet, and clear .with one 

 bound a space of forty feet. They inhabit open plains, where any- 

 thing approaching can be seen from afar, and associate in droves 

 composed of from ten to sixty females and one mature male. 

 When grazing or ruminating, members of the herd are placed as 

 sentinels at about six to seven hundred feet distance, to watch 

 over the common safety. At the slightest alarm, the whole take 

 flight, with the old male at their head. Their principal habitat is 

 the region of the Altai Mountains, but they are found as far as the 

 frontiers of EuroiDe. „ 



The members of this species collect together in flocks of several 

 thousands for the purpose of migration, when the males form a 

 guard, and defend the yomig ones from the attacks of Wolves 



