The book of antelopes, vol. 3 (of 4)Sclater, Philip Lutley
Science
The book of antelopes, vol. 3 (of 4)
Sclater, Philip Lutley
Antelopes
“This Gazelle is more like Clarke’s Gazelle than any other in
Somaliland, not only on account of its long neck, but because
of its habits. Never is it found out on the open plains, so
much frequented by Soemmerring’s Gazelle, but it prefers the
dense Khansa jungles, or, like Clarke’s Gazelle, the high
durr-grass of parts of the Haud. Sometimes it is found in
company with, or rather in the same neighbourhood as, _Gazella
soemmerringi_, in more or less open country amongst the
Khansa-bush and big aloes. It is usually seen in small families
of not more than a dozen, but never in herds. It relies on its
sharp eyesight and long neck for its safety, standing motionless
amongst the bush or grass watching for an enemy. Most of the
Somalis dislike its flesh, not so, however, the Lion and
Leopard, and many a Waller’s Gazelle is stalked and killed by
them. Its native name in Somaliland is ‘Gerenook,’ and in the
Arusa Galla country ‘Googoofto.’ In the latter country it is
very common, inhabiting the jungles frequented by Elephants and
Lesser Koodoos. It is the most ubiquitous of all the Antelopes
of this part of Africa, and it is a very common sight to see
a buck with its fore legs, like a goat, high up the trunk of
a Galol-tree nibbling the small green leaves. The female is
hornless, whilst the horns of a good male measure from 14 to 15
inches. Its legs are extremely slender. When disturbed it runs
with its long neck stretched out as near the ground as possible,
so that it can never be mistaken for a Clarke’s Gazelle, as
the latter always holds its head erect and its tail well over
its back, and springs instead of runs. The young are born, I
believe, early in the year; but I have never seen a really young
one, although I have been in the country every month in the year
except May and June. On December 8th, 1894, I was stalking an
Oryx when a female Waller’s Gazelle ran almost on to me pursued
by a male; they did not see me, but turned and ran back, and
then again came towards where I was lying, still without seeing
me. After they had gone I crawled on, when for the third time
they returned and this time saw me. I remained motionless on one
knee; the female retired to a bush, and the male with its neck
stretched at its full length came cautiously towards me till
within 25 yards, and then gave three or four snorts. As it was
the Oryx I was after I now moved and they at once trotted off.”
We copy an account of the native mode of capture of this Gazelle from
Messrs. Parkinson and Dunbar’s narrative of their journey in Northern
Somaliland in 1896 (Geogr. Journ. xi. p. 25):--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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