THE BLUE WILDEBEEST 



When fleeing from an enemy they often gallop 

 almost in a line at a very rapid pace, the females 

 leading and the adult males in the rear. 



Burchell's Zebras are often seen grazing with herds 

 of Blue Wildebeest, and seem to be on the friendliest 

 terms with them. 



Old males which have been driven out of the 

 herd by their younger rivals are sometimes met with 

 alone, but more usually they attach themselves 

 to herds of Sassaby, Waterbuck, Zebra and Impala. 



The Blue Wildebeest is not so full of life, frolic 

 and dash as is its cousin the Black Wildebeest, and 

 is somewhat clumsy and stolid, but nevertheless 

 when brought to bay it puts up a good fight. 



There are considerable numbers of these animals 

 in the Transvaal Game Reserve, where they breed 

 freely. The calving occurs from September to 

 the end of December. The calves bleat very much 

 like the cal vcsof domesticcattle,and untilsufliciently 

 strong and fleet to join the herd, they are kept con- 

 cealed in thick bush or long grass, and carefully 

 watched over by their mothers. 



The gestation period is from eight to nine months. 



The flesh of this antelope is coarse, hard and dry ; 

 but it makes fairly good biltong. 



The average height of the Blue Wildebeest is 

 4 feet 3 inches at the shoulder. It is bulkier than 

 the other species and more ox-like. The general 

 colour is dark bluish-drab with a silvery sheen, and 

 indistinct traces of brown transverse bands on the 



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