OCR Text |
Show 318 ON THE GAZELLES OF INDIA AND PERSIA. [Mar. 18, (vel Sistan) a Gedrosia (Baluchistan) sejungentium. Forsan et in ipsa Drano;iana invenienda. Coloration.-Forehead black, mixed with brown, the black being purest at the base of the horns, and in two points descending about 1| inch from each horn towards the nose. A black patch about 2 inches long on the top of the nose (separated from the forehead-patch*? and) not extending to the nostrils. A mixed brown and black line from the anterior angle of the eye to the side of the upper lip. All round the eye (with the exception of the anterior angle) and a broad band from above the eye to the muzzle, including the nostrils, isabelline. A few long black hairs above the eye. Remainder of the face fawn-coloured. Ears isabelline-fawn exteriorly, dirty-whitish within, the upper half with a dark brown edge outside. The general colour of the back is ochraceous, rather yellower than in the allied species. The tips of the hairs are of this colour, which may be specified as yellowish fawn, the whole basal portion being pale fawn-colour without any yellow. The centre of the back appears scarcely darker than the sides; the posterior edge of the dorsal colour on the rump is a little darker, but not m u c h ; and the margin of the fawn-colour is well defined everywhere against the white of the under parts. Tail and knee-brushes black ; hair at the backs of the feet from the fetlock (metacarpal and metatarsal) joints to the hoof, and between the division of the toes in front, dark brown. Fur.-The hair is both thicker and longer in the specimen before m e than in skins of G. bennetti and G. subgutturosa. This m a y partly be due to the date (March 15) when the specimen described was shot-but not entirely, I think. Horns.-The horns near the base are nearly parallel, and they only diverge very slightly throughout, curving a little inwards towards the tips. They gently bend backwards near the base, and then forwards, the anterior curve being steady, not sudden. Except at the extreme tip, they are distinctly though very bluntly ringed throughout. It m a y fairly be assumed that the curve in the male is similar, but more pronounced. The following dimensions were taken on the body before skinning :- ft. in. ft. in. Length, nose to between ears 0 7 Length, between ears to top of shoulder (wither) . - 1 0 Length, top of shoulder to insertion of tail 1 9 Length of tail 0 6 Length, hairs at end of tail 0 2 Total length from tip of nose to end of tail 4 0 Length of ear measured from the orifice 0 5*6 Breadth of ear laid flat 0 2*5 Length of body from front of shoulder to rump 2 0 * In the only specimen obtained, the hair on the face between the forehead and nose is much worn off; and perhaps in other specimens the dark forehead and nose-patches may be united or nearly so. |