104 
and Eastern Algerian Sahara,” published in the Zoological Society’s ‘ Pro- 
ceedings’ for 1896, the principal portion of which we must quote at full 
length :— 
“Tt is with great respect and diffidence that I object to the Dorcas being described 
(see P. Z. 8. 1894, p. 467) as ‘the common Gazelle of the Algerian Sahara generally,’ 
for the Dorcas is not met with in the Sahara proper, so far as I can learn, and in the 
Eastern Algerian Sahara at least is not to be found south of lat. 33°. The Dorcas in 
the Eastern Province and in Tunisia is the common Gazelle of the plains immediately 
south of the Aures Range, which form a sort of transitional zone between the mountains 
and the Sahara proper. Roughly speaking, this Gazelle is confined to a belt of country 
not more than 120 or 150 miles wide (and generally very much narrower). It may he 
found in plains, or even in low hills, within the southern mountain-chains, and on or 
near some of the sand-dunes on the confines of the Chotts. I have frequently seen it 
in the neighbourhood of the Chotts, but once into the Oued Souf and sand desert and 
all trace of it is lost and the Rhime takes its place. In the district of Sef el Menadi, 
where I have been twice with Sir E. G. Loder, and where he secured the first specimen 
of the Gazelle (the Rhime) which now bears his name, we found both Rhime and 
Dorcas on the same ground ; and this place may be marked as the most northern limit 
which the Rhime ever inhabits, as it never leaves the sand, I think, whilst the Dorcas 
does not go much further south than this. Probably there are several of these isolated 
islands of sand where the Rhime may be found. 
“The best male Dorcas that I have shot had horns a little over 31 cm. in length, the 
best female 25 cm. (measured along the curve). 
“They vary a good deal in colour according to the ground they frequent, and there 
is a slight variety among members of the same band. In 1893 there was on the plain 
of Ain Naga a pure white one, no doubt an albino; but though my hunter had 
frequently seen it, he was never able to find it for me.” 
Passing on to the Beylik of Tunis, we have excellent notes on the Gazelles 
of this country drawn up by Mr. Joseph I. 8. Whitaker, F.Z.S., published in 
the same volume of the Zoological Society’s ‘ Proceedings.’ Mr. Whitaker 
writes of this Gazelle as follows :— 
“The common Dorcas Gazelle is to be met with throughout the greater part of 
Central and Southern Tunisia, frequenting the vast semi-desert plains abundant in those 
districts, but not the more sandy inland country of the extreme south of the Regency, 
where it is replaced by another species. So far as I can ascertain, the Dorcas Gazelle 
never occurs in the Tell country; but I have observed it in the neighbourhood of 
Kairouan, which is probably the extreme northern limit of the range of this species 
in the Regency. On the extensive plains to the west of Gafsa I have found it 
particularly abundant ; and I understand it is plentiful in the neighbourhood of the 
Chott Djerid, and throughout a considerable portion of the coast-country of the south, 
Ee 
