The range of the various species belonging to this large group is very extensive, comprising the whole of Northern and Eastern Africa, Arabia, and Western and Central Asia, as well as Mongolia and India. The gazelles are inhabitants of the open plains and arid desert regions of the Old World, and, although sometimes met with in tracts of country where there is a certain amount of scattered bush or open stunted forest, are never found in any kind of jungle or thick cover.
On the sandy plains of North-western Africa are found the Red-fronted Gazelle of Senegal and Gambia; the little-known Mhorr Gazelle of South-western Morocco; and the Dama Gazelle, a species which has been known to naturalists ever since the time of Buffon. A near ally of the last-named animal is the Red-necked Gazelle of Dongola and Senaar. In North-eastern Africa are found the large and handsome Soemmerring's Gazelle; the Isabella Gazelle, of the coastlands of the Red Sea; Heuglin's Gazelle; Pelzeln's Gazelle, of the maritime plains of Northern Somaliland; and Speke's Gazelle, of the interior of the same country; whilst, farther south the group is represented by the large and beautiful Grant's Gazelle, with its allies Peters's Gazelle and Thomson's Gazelle. The well-known Dorcas Gazelle is an inhabitant of Morocco and Algeria, ranging through Egypt into Palestine and Syria; the Marica Gazelle, the Muscat Gazelle, and the Arabian Gazelle inhabit the deserts of Arabia; the Edmi Gazelle is found in the mountain-ranges of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis; while Loder's Gazelle inhabits the sandy tracts of the interior of Algeria and Tunis. In Asia, besides the four species of gazelle already enumerated in which the females are hornless, one other member of the group is met with. This is the Indian Gazelle, a species very closely allied to the Arabian form.
Of the whole genus Grant's Gazelle is the most beautiful. This handsome animal, which was first discovered by the explorers Speke and Grant in 1860, is an inhabitant of Eastern Africa, from the neighbourhood of Lake Rudolph southwards to Ugogo. In size the average height at the shoulder of males of this species is about 34 inches. The coat is close and short and of a general fawn colour, the rump and belly pure white, and the face marked with a rufous band from the horns to the nose and with streaks of white on each side. The upper surface of the tail is white, with a black and tufted tip. The horns, which are very elegant in shape, being first curved slightly forwards and then backwards, are much longer and more powerful than in any other gazelle, and attain a length of 30 inches in the males and 17 inches in the females.
Photo by L. Midland, F.Z.S.] [North Finchley.
SPEKE'S GAZELLE.
Found in the interior of Northern Somaliland.
Photo by W. P. Dando] [Regent's Park.
GAZELLES FROM EGYPT.