THE DIKDIKS 
629 
hock to the hoof of only 6 yi inches. The northern race 
minor of the desert interior regions is scarcely of larger size, 
but kirki is much darker. In color it resembles the highland 
races hindei and cavendishi , but is somewhat less rufous, 
being more vinaceous on the sides. 
Northern Kirk Dikdik 
Rhynchotragus kirki minor 
Rhynchotragus kirki minor Lonnberg, 1912, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 
IX, p. 65. 
Range. —Watershed of the Northern Guaso Nyiro River 
northward to Mount Marsabit and eastward as far, at least, 
as the Lorian swamp, no doubt extending within a few 
miles of the coast, where it intergrades with the typical 
kirki. 
This light-colored desert race was described by Lonn¬ 
berg from specimens which he collected near Chanler Falls 
in the lower Northern Guaso Nyiro River. It may be dis¬ 
tinguished from the other races by its lighter color and 
smaller size. The body color is buffy-drab, and the legs 
and head are buffy-ochraceous. The color of the lower sides 
bordering the white under-parts is buffy, and shows very 
little contrast to the white. The measurements of adults in 
the flesh are: length of head and body, male, 23^ inches, 
female, 24^ inches; tail, 1J/2 inches; hind foot, male, 7^ 
inches, female, 8 inches; ear, 2inches. Greatest length of 
skull: male, 4inches, female, 4^ inches; length of narial 
chamber, male, inches, female, ifV inches. The longest- 
horned male in a series of six adults has horns 2^ inches, 
measured in a straight line, with a spread at the tips of 2 yi 
inches. 
A large series have been examined in the National 
Museum from the Northern Guaso Nyiro River and its 
junction with the Lakiundu and from watering-places on 
the Marsabit Road at Merille, Longaya, and Koya. The 
race is confined to the lower desert levels to altitudes below 
two thousand five hundred feet and is unknown on the 
summits of the desert mountains. 
