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in the flat districts near the Tropic of Capricorn. It is a thirsty animal, 

 and the hunter when he sees one of them knows that water is at no great 

 distance from the spot where the game is. 



GENUS CATOBLEPAS. 



The tivo species of this genus are most remarkable animals. They 

 seem a compound of horse, ox, and antelope. They have the head of 

 an ox, the body and neck of a horse, and the cloven hoof of the antelope. 

 Both sexes have horns. 



The Gnu, Catoblcpas gnu (Plate XLVII), has a fine head, and pecu- 

 liarly shaped horns which are bent downward, then upward, with a sharp 

 curve. They live in lai-ge herds, and are curious in disposition, as well 

 as very irritable in temper. 



" They commence whisking their long white tails," says Gumming, 

 "in a most eccentric manner; then, springing suddenly into the air, 

 they begm pawing and capering, and pursue each other in circles at 

 their utmost speed. Suddenly they all pull up together to overhaul the 

 intruder, when some of the bulls will often commence fighting in the 

 most violent manner, dropping on their knees at every shock ; then, 

 quickly wheeling about, they kick up their heels, whirl their tails with a 

 fantastic flourish, and scour across the plain, enveloped in a cloud of 

 dust." On account of these extraordinary manoeuvres, the Gnu is called 

 Wildebeest by the Dutch settlers. 



The sub-family Rupricaprin.e contains only tivo species, inhabiting 

 the European Alps from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus. In appearance 

 and habits they strongly resemble the goats. They are, however, true 

 Antelopes, and may be distinguished by the shape of the horns, which 

 rise straight from the top of the head for some inches, and then sud- 

 denly curve backward. 



GENUS RUPRICAPRA. 



The Chamois, Rupricapra tragus (Plate XLVIII), is really a forest 



antelope, and wherever man spares them, they prefer the woods to the 



higher peaks of the mountains. At present they are most abundant in the 



Tyrol, where the chase of the Chamois is the favorite amusement of the 



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