The “Sakára Guyu,” as the Somalis call the present species, is found, according to Capt. Swayne, in pairs in suitable localities all over Northern Somaliland. It lives in broken ground, where there is good cover of low mimosa-scrub, and is never seen in open grass plains, but is specially partial to aloe undergrowth. The female exposes herself most to view, and is consequently more often shot.
“They lie very close, and when disturbed they dart off at speed with two or three sharp whistling alarm-notes uttered in quick succession. This often gives the alarm to larger game.
“Three or four Sakáro may be seen together, seldom or never more.
“Young Sakáro are soon able to take care of themselves, and only when very young can they be run down on foot by the Somalis, who often catch them to eat. The Somalis, who are sensible in most ways, are peculiar in that they do not eat birds, and know little about them, calling them contemptuously ‘Shimbir,’ the Arabic for bird, but generally having no names for the different kinds. They say birds are ‘Harain,’ or forbidden food.
“I have seen probably eighty Sakáro in the course of a day. Their habits are those of the hare, and they live in similar ground.
“They nibble the young shoots of the mimosa. They like to be near water, and go to drink at midday and just after nightfall. They are especially lively in the afternoon and evening.”
Besides Capt. Swayne’s skins there are specimens in the British Museum obtained by Herr Menges at Gerbatir, in Northern Somaliland, which are provisionally referred to this species, and also two examples presented (in April 1894) by Dr. Donaldson Smith from Milmil in the interior of that country.
We have received no further material towards elucidating this difficult point since Thomas wrote his monograph of the genus, and must therefore leave it for future workers to settle. In collecting skins and skulls, sportsmen are particularly requested to mark very carefully on them which skin belongs to each skull, as it is to the habitual neglect of such labelling that the present impossibility of clearing the matter up is mainly due.
December, 1895.
THE BOOK OF ANTELOPES, PL. XXXI.