THE PERSIAN GAZELLE. 
Gazella subgutturosa. 
Plate XXII. 
The Gazelles form a distinct section of tlie numerous and beautiful group of Antelopes, embracing eight or 
nine species, mostly inhabiting Africa, and rather difficult to separate from one another, owing to many of 
them running into well-marked varieties. The Dorcas Gazelle of Northern Africa (G. dorcas ) and the Chikara 
or Indian Gazelle (G. bennettu ), (which latter differs from the true Gazelles in the absence of the tear-bag or 
lacrymal sinus) are the two species which ai’e most frequently seen in our Menageries. The former of these, 
which breeds with comparative freedom in captivity, is often tamed and kept in a semi-domestic state in the 
tents of the Arabs, where it is the favourite pet of the Arab ladies, and a common theme of admiration for 
the Eastern poets. 
The Persian Gazelle, which was first described by Giildenstiidt and Pallas in the end of the last century, 
is more rarely met with in a lh-ing state. The Zoological Society first received females of this species through 
the liberality of Alderman Finnis, in one of whose vessels they were brought from Bussorali, on the Persian 
Gulf. The male which furnished the subject of this drawing, was obtained by purchase, and lived unfortunately 
but a very short time after its arrival. This Gazelle appears to have a wide range, extending from Asia Minor 
and the Persian Gulf, through Persia into the Kirghiz Steppes of Central Asia. It differs essentially from the 
African and Indian Gazelles in its gray color, in the shorter contour of the head, and in the fact of the females 
being hornless. As it is much more hardy in constitution, it is peculiarly adapted for a place in European 
collections of living animals. In the plains of Persia and Assyria, where the Persian Gazelle is abundant in 
small herds, it is a favorite object of sport and is pursued both with the greyhound and the hawk. Mr. Wolf’s 
drawing of this species is the first which has been made from life, and exhibits the characters of this 
interesting animal in a very different light from the figures of it hitherto published. 
