96 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



slightest pretext, or even for no apparent reason 

 at all, following a visitor for the whole length of 

 the railings in a clumsy canter, with much flourishing 

 of tail and hoofs in the air : if in a more sedate 

 mood, it walks along slowly in a remarkably 

 bovine fashion, the huge head moving slowly up 

 and down at each stride. The blue wildebeest is 

 exceedingly wide-awake, and any unknown object 

 is regarded with a suspicious and prolonged stare. 

 Should the wildebeest be tame enough, the stare 

 is followed by a deliberate walk up to the suspected 

 object : the animal halts within a few yards of it, 

 and has another long stare, usually wheeling off 

 with a flourish of its streaming tail. Wildebeest 

 will investigate human beings with determined and 

 not very friendly curiosity, advancing so near that 

 I recollect being compelled to hastily shut off one 

 persistent individual living in a Continental Zoo, 

 where I was taking photographs ; when the door 

 was pulled to, he had already approached to within 

 a couple of yards. 



Like many other ungulates, these antelopes are 

 very fond of rubbing themselves against trees, 

 posts, and similar objects : if they can find a damp 

 place in their paddock, they will roll in the mud 

 like buffaloes. Two wildebeest kept together in 

 the same enclosure will frequently indulge in semi- 

 sportive contests, dropping on their knees, and 

 crashing their heavily-armed heads together with 



