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Show 1873.] SIR V. BROOKE ON THE GENUS GAZELLA. 539 an animal which both these authors considered distinct from their Kevella. If, therefore, the Kevella be not Gazella dorcas, it must represent a form of which we as yet know but little. In the Senckenbergian Museum at Frankfort I noticed two Gazelles which had been brought in 1827 by Riippell from Arabia Petraea. They stood labelled as G. dorcas, var. arabica. These specimens appeared to m e to differ decidedly from the Gazella arabica oi Ehrenberg from South Arabia, and, in the lyrate form of their horns and in their markings, to be more nearly allied to the species under consideration. In their larger size and stouter build, softer and finer coat, as also in the paleness of their facial and lateral markings, they presented considerable peculiarity ; and I have no doubt that similar characters will be found to distinguish the Gazelles of Northern Arabia from those of Syria. Referring doubtless to this larger race, Mr. Tristram (to whom I am indebted for a very beautiful and typical specimen of Gazella dorcas, obtained in Syria) thus writes in a letter with which he has kindly favoured me on the subject: " Gazella arabica, Ehr., is common east of Jordan, and I have had specimens.... I believe both species are there equally abundant, but in rather different kinds of country." Now, to be strictly consistent, a race so persistently modified, and so easily distinguishable as this appears to be, should bear a definite title; for the present, however I shall content myself with alluding to it, the materials available being quite insufficient for a thorough understanding of the differentiation and distribution of the form in these countries. In the same letter above quoted, Mr. Tristram writes :-"In Algeria I noticed and obtained two Gazella dorcas and one specimen which I presume was the Gazella corinna, Cuv." (more probably Gazella cuvieri). "The smaller Gazella dorcas I found everywhere as far as the Oran Sahara. The larger species I never got east of Biskra (Constantine). M y impression was that the two species overlapped in Algeria." Some very beautiful frontlets and horns brought by Colonel Grant from Algeria, which 1 have had the pleasure of examining, appear to me, as far as it is possible to judge from the horns alone, undoubtedly referable to Gazella dorcas. 2. GAZELLA ISABELLA. 1827. Antilope dorcas, Licht. Darst. t. 5. 1843. Gazella dorcas, Gray, Cat. Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 160 (part.). 1846. A. dorcas, a, Sund. Pec. p. 267- 1846. Gazella isabella, Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. p. 214 (vol. xviii.) ; Gray, Knowsl. Menag. p. 4. 1850. , Gray, P. Z. S. p. 113. 1852. • , Gray, Cat. M a m m . Brit. Mus. p. 57. 1853. Gazella dorcas, Temm. Esq. Zool. p. 193. 1855. , Wagn. Saugeth. p. 403 (part.). 1859. , Gieb. Saugeth. p. 305 (part.). 1863. , Heugl. Ant. und Buff. p. 5 (part.). 1869. A. dorcas, Heugl. Reis. Weiss. Nil, p. 315 (part.). |
