XXIX 
ANIMALS OF THE BACK BLOCKS 
291 
Indeed, at Marsabit a female has been shot with horns 
measuring 40 inches. A fair average head would be 
anything over 32 inches. The bulls have horns on an 
average rather shorter but more massive than the cows. 
It is difficult to distinguish the two sexes, but a solitary 
animal or an outlying sentinel is pretty certain to be 
a bull. 
The Fringe-eared Oryx ( Callotis ) is somewhat 
smaller and has less distinct colouring. The ears are 
larger and more pendant and the tips are decorated by 
a tuft of dark hair. Any oryx found south of the Athi 
is of this species. Fringe-ears are found round Simba 
and Makindu and in all the bush country to the south, 
in all the bush country round Kitui, at intervals 
throughout the Taru desert and very plentifully on the 
Serengati plains and in the southern Game Reserve. 
As one approaches Lake Natron the characteristics of 
the species get less marked, and notably the ears are 
smaller and less fringed. The average horns of the 
Callotis w'ould measure two inches less than those of 
the Beisa. 
Waller s Gazelle or the Gerenuk is certain to be 
found in the most sandy and arid portions of the Pro¬ 
tectorate, wherever there is bush with any approach to 
green foliage. His long neck and long legs enable him 
to reach high up any bush, and to acquire any succulent 
tit-bit he stands on his hind legs, placing his forelegs 
on a convenient bough. The gerenuk is very shy 
or rather perhaps his long neck and legs, small head 
and dull, monotonous colouring nearly always enable 
him to see the hunter before the latter sees him. 
After a short glimpse he seems to fade away between 
the bushes with head carried straight in front of him. 
He is common in the Serengati plains and the 
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