Map of Somaliland (showing the localities of the Dibatag).
The specimens of Ammodorcas clarkei in the British Museum consist of a head-skin with its skull from Burao Wells, presented by Mr. T. W. H. Clarke (the type of the species), and a stuffed male, the skins of a male and two females and their skulls from the same district, obtained in his second expedition, and presented by the same donor. There are also a skin and skeleton of a female from Darror Wells, on the Haud, presented by Mr. Ford G. Barclay, and the skull of a male from near the Bur Dap Mountain, Central Somaliland, presented by Col. A. Paget.
Our illustration of the male of this Gazelle, with the female in the distance (Plate LXXIII.), has been drawn and put on the stone from the specimens in the British Museum.
[Since this was written we have received from Dr. Matschie, through Herr Oscar Neumann, the interesting information that the Dibatag occurs in the Kilimanjaro district of German East Africa, a considerable extension of its previously known range.]
September, 1898.
Genus VIII. LITHOCRANIUS.
| Type. | |
| Lithocranius[16], Kohl, Ann. Mus. Wien, i. p. 79 (1886) | L. walleri. |
Size about as in the larger Gazelles. Form very peculiar, owing to the great elongation of the neck, which gives almost a Giraffe-like appearance to the animal. Limbs also very long; false hoofs quite minute. Colouring of the head less typically Gazelline than in Ammodorcas, but a modification of the light lateral body-line present.
Skull (see fig. 85, p. 231) excessively long and low, the cranial part behind the horns particularly lengthened; the bones of this part very solid and stony. Bullæ low and opaque. A shallow anteorbital fossa present. Premaxillæ not reaching the nasals. Lower jaw slender and delicate. Premolars 3/3, the anterior one above almost as large as the second.
Horns thick, oval in section, very closely ringed, curved backwards as in many species of Gazella for the greater part of their length, their middle portion more or less lyrate, as in Gazella dorcas, their tips recurved upwards or forwards. Female hornless.