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Show 306 CAPT. H. G. C SWAYNE ON THE [May 3, animal. It is a grass-feeder, and lives in the open plains or in scattered bush, but never in thick jungle, and it prefers flat ground. The white hindquarters can be seen from a great distance, making a herd of Aoul look like a flock of sheep in the haze of the plains. I have never seen Aoul on the Golis Range, but in the Hartebeeste ground beyond they are common, and may often be seen in large herds along with the herds of Hartebeestes. The Aoul are the most stupid and easy to shoot of all the Somali Antelopes, and their habits are identical with those of the Indian Blackbuck; but the Aoul is not to be compared with theBlackbuck for beauty or grace of movement. Aoul often make long jumps when going away, and are apparently a near relative of the Cape Springbuck. I have never seen them spring vertically to anything like the height to which the Indian Blackbuck will spring. Presumably it is done to get a better view of the plain. Aoul are inquisitive and will follow a caravan. If fired at they make off across the front at racing speed, drawing up in a troop now and then to gaze. If much meat is required, it is easy in scattered bush to run into a large herd and shoot several. A large herd becomes confused, as the leaders cannot be seen in bush. The bucks with a herd will often be seen fighting or chasing each other about at speed as Blackbuck do. Solitary bucks are sometimes found far from any herd. Aoul can live a long way from water. Near the coast they often come down close to the shore, possibly to obtain salt. A wounded Aoul buck does not hide, but will lie down in the most open spot he can find, and will generally have a circle of jackals waiting round him. Aoul can easily be shot at dusk, when they are apt to blunder close to a caravan. The horns vary in shape, generally being lyrated, sometimes pointing forward like the Gerenouk horns. They are often malformed, and seldom have much symmetry. The largest pair I have seen measured 17 inches ; the average is about 14 inches, following the curve. I once saw a herd of about fifteen young fawns of this Antelope gathered together a mile away from the rest of the herd. 7 & 8. THE GAZELLES. T H E C O A S T G A Z E L L E (Gazella pelzelni). \ n , n^ T H E BIG-NOSED GAZELLE (G. spekii). J b o t h Dero' The ordinary Coast Gazelle almost exactly resembles the Arabian and the Indian Gazelle (6r. bennetti). The other, the Big- or Flabby-nosed Gazelle, inhabits the elevated country, commencing about 35 miles from the coast. I have shot numbers of Gazelles for food at various times, and have always noticed that the Flabby-nosed Gazelle has a much thicker and longer coat than the Coast Gazelle. This is evidently |
