This section is from "The American Cyclopaedia", by George Ripley And Charles A. Dana. Also available from Amazon: The New American Cyclopędia. 16 volumes complete..
Gazelle, the type of a group of the antelope family (see Antelope), of beautiful form, small size, and graceful carriage. Both sexes are provided with horns, nearly over the orbits, annulated and striated, nearly vertical, and bending outward and at the top inward in a lyrate form, and of a black color; the shape of the ancient lyre is said to have originated from using in its construction the horns and the frontal bone of antelopes, the strings being passed from a cross bar at their tips to a second fastened across the orbits; the bony core of the horn is solid. They have a small lachrymal sinus, inguinal pores, generally tufts upon the knees, a short dark-tufted tail, and two or four mammae; the darker color of the sides is separated from the white of the abdomen by a very dark band; the eyes are prominent, dark-colored, with a soft and gentle expression; the nose is ovine. They are gregarious, inhabiting the open and barren plains of northern Africa and western Asia, shy and difficult of approach, and extremely swift.
The common gazelle, or Barbary antelope {gazella dordas, H. Smith), the gazal of the Arabs, is generally supposed to be the of Aelian and the tzebi of the Scriptures. It is a little less than the roebuck in size, with round, black, lyrated horns, about 13 in. long, with 12 or 13 bars, and sharp points turned forward; the general color is pale fulvous, extending down the front and outside of the limbs; the lips, nose, buttocks, under parts, and inside of legs white; a rufous tint on the forehead, blackish in the middle, and white and black streaks on the nose; eyes large, black, and lustrous. The horns in the female are more slender, and the points are turned inward; the mamma) are two. This species seems to be confined to the N. side of the Atlas mountains, Egypt, Abyssinia, Syria, Arabia, and S. Persia. They feed generally at dawn and at evening, approaching water, it is said, only once in 24 hours; they are hunted in various ways, and their flesh is excellent; they furnish food to great numbers of carnivorous animals. The kevel (G. kevella, H. Smith) is by some considered a mere variety of the common gazelle; it is about the same size, but the head is longer, the horns are more robust and longer, the orbits larger, the eyes fuller, and the geographical distribution to the south of the Atlas; the habits and general disposition of the colors are the' same as in the common gazelle.
The corinna, found in central Africa and described by Adanson, appears to be one or the other of the preceding species. Other gazelles are the m'hor of Mr. Bennett, the nanguer of F. Cuvier, and the ariel or cora, which are also supposed by many to be varieties of the G. dorcas. Sommering's gazelle (G. Soemmeringii, Rupp.) is a very beautiful and delicate creature, about 2 1/2 ft. high at the shoulder; the color above is a reddish-gray isabella color, the buttocks, lower parts, and inside of the limbs white, and the median line of the forehead to the nose brownish black; it inhabits N. E. Africa.
Common Gazelle (Gazella dorcas).
Kevel (Gazella kevella).
Sommering's Gazelle (Gazella Soemmeringii).
 
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