THE BEIRA ANTELOPE 
DORCOTRAGUS MEGALOTIS 
T HIS beautiful little antelope, which is an inhabitant of the 
parched, scrub -covered hills of Somaliland, has no very near 
affinities to any other species, and has therefore been placed in 
a genus by itself. In general appearance it somewhat resembles 
a steinbok, but some naturalists look upon it as an aberrant 
member of the gazelle group, whilst others, again, consider 
that it is related to the dik-diks. 
In size the Beira antelope stands a little under two feet at the shoulder, 
and the males alone carry horns, which much resemble those of the 
klipspringer, standing straight up from the head and being ringed at the 
base. They attain a length of from three to five inches. In colour these 
little animals are bluish grey above and white beneath, and so closely do 
they match the colour of the rocks and stones and the dry scrub amongst 
which they live that they are very difficult to see when standing or lying 
at rest. The ears of the Beira are larger in proportion to the size of the 
animal than in any other species of African antelope. The hoofs, too, are 
peculiar, being broad and rounded, which enables them to get a firm 
grip on the rocks amongst which they live, for in this respect they resemble 
klipspringers. As the range of the Beira antelope is confined to certain 
very restricted areas, it has not been met with by many sportsmen. Nor 
is it an easy animal to shoot even when its habitat has been reached, as its 
pursuit must be undertaken in a scorching climate and in a parched -up, 
waterless country, whilst its shy and wary disposition renders it difficult 
of approach, and even when within shot it presents but a small target. 
Like the dik-diks and many others of the small African antelopes, the 
Beira seems to be entirely independent of water, whilst its food consists 
of the leaves of various shrubs and bushes, as well as young grass, when 
freshly sprouting after a shower of rain. 
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