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In 1884 Dr. Giinther, commenting on Peters’s figure of this supposed 
Gazella grant?, stated that in his opinion it “clearly belonged to a distinct 
species. It resembled somewhat Gazella thomsoni in the slight degree 
in which the horns diverge from each other; but their annulated portion 
was almost straight, and the annuli themselves were much further apart, 
much fewer in number (about twelve), and lower towards the hinder part of 
the horn. The base of the bony core showed a bossy swelling, which was 
different from that of Gazella granti, and entirely absent in Gazella thomsoni.” 
This species Dr. Giinther proposed to call Gazella petersi. 
There has, however, been much doubt raised by subsequent authorities as 
to the validity of this species, and although we have given a separate heading 
to Gazella petersi we have had considerable hesitation as to whether it ought 
not to be regarded rather as a local subspecies of G. granti, to which 
it is closely allied in all essential characters. But since we have as yet seen 
no specimens absolutely intermediate between the two, so far as the rump- 
markings are concerned, we have thought it advisable to keep them provi- 
sionally separate. At the same time we shall be in no way surprised if such 
specimens should occur, in which case the two forms will have to be united. 
As regards the skulls, no constant or tangible difference can be made out, 
although those of G. peterst can usually be distinguished by their smaller 
size, narrower nasal opening, and shorter and less divergent horns. 
Mr. F. G. Jackson, in ‘ Big Game Shooting,’ gives us the following account 
of this Gazelle and his experiences with it :— 
“ Gazella petersi (known to the Swahilis also as ‘Sala’) may be a local 
variety of G. granti rather than a distinct species. It used to be plentiful 
at Merereni on the British East African coast, and is still found further 
inland in the Galla country. It is certainly a smaller beast than Gazella granti 
from Kilimanjaro and Machakos, but in other respects is almost identical, 
excepting in the shape and size of the horns, which I have never known to 
exceed 22 inches in length measured along the curve. ‘The horns are also 
straighter, and have not nearly such a pronounced backward curve as those of 
G. granti, neither do they diverge towards the points so much, benig rarely 
more than seven or eight inches apart at the widest parts. Gazella peters? is 
found in the small open plains and open scrub.” 
In the gallery of the British Museum there is a good mounted specimen 
of the adult male of this species, also another younger specimen from the 
2p 2 
