Gazelle

GAZELLE substantive (Arab. Ghaza). Mammal, genus of the antelope family, which includes a dozen species, characterized by horns shaped as a lyre or with a double curve, always ringed, whithout edge, and born by both male and female. Gazelles are graceful small quadrupeds of elegant figure, with soft eyes, a shy nature, and they run lightly and rapidly. They go about in groups in the bare and barren plains of northern Africa and western Asia; they are difficult to approach. The Dorcas gazelle (gazella dorcas, H. Smith) is slightly smaller than a roe deer and has black and lyre-shaped round horns, about 30 cm long and bearing 15 or 13 rings and sharp, straight spikes. It usually feeds at dawn and dusk, and is believed to drink once every 24 hours. its flesh is excellent and is food to a large number of carnivorous animals. The kevel (gazella kevella, H. Smith) is considered by some naturalists as a simple variety of the common Dorcas gazelle and is roughly the same size, but its head is longer, its horns are stronger and longer, and its eyes are bigger. Its habits and the general pattern of its colors are the same as in the Dorcas gazelle. The Soemmerring’s gazelle (gazella Soemmeringii, Rüpp.) is a delicate and beautiful creature, about 83 cm high at the shoulder. It lives in Northeast Africa.
 
Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.