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Show 308 ON THE ANTELOPES OF NORTHERN SOMALILAND. [May 3, They lie very close, and when disturbed they dart off at speed with two or three sharp whistling alarm-notes uttered in quick succession. This often gives the alarm to larger game. Three or four Sakaro may be seen together, seldom or never more. Young Sakaro are soon able to take care of themselves, and only when very young can they be run down on foot by the Somalis, who often catch them to eat. The Somalis, who are sensible in most ways, are peculiar in that they do not eat birds, and know little about them, calling them contemptuously " Shimbir," the Arabic for bird, but generally having no names for the different kinds. They say birds are " Haram," or forbidden food. I have seen probably eighty Sak&ro in the course of a day. Their habits are those of the hare, and they live in similar ground. They nibble the young shoots of the mimosa. They like to be near water, and go to drink at midday and just after nightfall. They are especially lively in the afternoon and evening. 10. THE KLIPSPRINGER (Oreotragus saltator). Alakud. These Antelopes live in the most rugged mountains, poising themselves on large boulders, and leaping from rock to rock. They are neither shy nor hard to shoot. Alakud go in twos and threes like Sakaro. The longest horns I saw in Somaliland were about three inches. The females have no horns. 11. CLARKE'S GAZELLE (Ammodorcas clarkei). Dibatag. Clarke's Gazelle is very local in its distribution, and is not found nearer than Burao and the edge of the Haud. They are common in parts of the Dolbahanta country. I have never had time to shoot when in the country they inhabit, which has only lately been opened up. Its likeness to the Gerenouk is remarkable. 12. BEIRA. M y brother, while with me in the Gadabursi country last year, saw three specimens of an Antelope which the natives called "Beira," but he was not fortunate in obtaining a shot. He described it as a small reddish Antelope of the Klipspringer kind, the same size, with little black horns, much laid back. The natives said no Europeans had shot them. |