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Show 1894.] MR. O. THOMAS ON GAZELLES FROM ALGERIA. 469 and a half the basal length, while in an equally aged G. cuvieri they are nearly twice that length; they are, however, very thick and strong. As to direction, they are rather far apart basally, and diverge evenly but slightly upwards ; for their basal two-thirds they curve backwards, but so far less than in other species that their hinder profile is scarcely concave; their tips bend again equally slightly upwards. Of rings they have only about 10, strongly developed in front, but obsolete postero-externally. Measurements tof the type, a flat skin, probably somewhat stretched :- Head and body (c.) 1400 mm.; tail without hairs 160, with hairs 220 ; ear from notch 132 ; fore hoof, length 54 : hind hoof 54.j (Skull, see p. 472.) Hab. Doubtful. Type bought at Algiers. In describing this very handsome Gazelle as new the first point to be considered is its distinctness from 67. rufifrons, Gray, the Senegal Gazelle, of which the typical specimens are in the British Museum. These specimens are two, male and female; but the male is unfortunately far younger than the type of 67. rufina, so that the great difference in size between the two species has had to be discounted in the case of one co-type by considerations of age, and in the other of sex. But a careful comparison of a set of other Gazelles, including 67. granti, scemmerringi, bennetti, and muscatensis, has shown (1) that size does not greatly increase, however much the horns may elongate, after m3 is up; and (2) that the sexes, widely different as the horns are, do not -differ in bulk to anything approaching the extent by which the type of 67. rufina exceeds the female co-type of rufifrons. The two species, though undoubtedly closely allied, are therefore evidently separable on account of their difference in size. Secondly, the question of Gazella corinna \ Pall., has to be considered. This name wTas based on Buffon's " LaCorine," described from a specimen which lived in the menagerie of the Duke of Orleans, and of the locality of which no mention is made2. Although the figure given of this animal shows undoubtedly much resemblance to 67. rufina, the measurements, both those of the body and those of the skeleton3, are absolutely incompatible with it, Buffon's animal, whatever it was, having been if anything smaller than 6r. rufifrons, from which, as already noted, 67. rufina is distinguished by its considerably greater size. The true determination of the Corine is, and perhaps must always remaiu, impossible of solution, as Buffon's own statement that, in common 1 La Corine, Buff. H. N. xii. p. 261, pi. xxvii. (animal $) (1761). Antilope corinna, Pall. Misc. Zool. p. 7 (1766). 2 Buffon's reference to the Corine of a horn brought from Senegal by Adanson must not be mistaken for a statement as to the locality of the living type specimen. J A n unfortunate misprint in tbe headline of Buffon's page 265 has given rise to some misapprehension as to the pertinence of the long table of measurements there given. Instead of " du Kevel" the line should run " de la Corine," as is clearly shown by the text of the preceding page. PROC. ZOOL. S O C - 1894, No. XXXI. 31 |