WHITE-TAILED GNU OR BLACK WILDEBEEST 169 



in the Kroonstad and Winburg districts) and in the South- 

 western Transvaal. Like the Blesbok, it inhabits the 

 open plains in herds of varying numbers. In May, 1918, 

 when out shooting with our hosts, Messrs. McKechnie 

 and H. P. Basson, we saw about 800 of these weird- 

 looking creatures on a farm near Marquard, in the Win- 

 burg district. They consorted in herds of from four- 



FiG. 91.— Wbite-tailed Gnu or E]ack Wildebeest. 



teen to sixty individuals. One small herd consisted of 

 bulls (thirteen in number), from which I shot my speci- 

 .men. They galloped round our cart in circles, at a 

 distance of about three hundred yards, and when fired at 

 indulged in the extraordinary antics which have been 

 commented upon by, amongst others, Mr. J. G. Millais, 

 who illustrates these queer capers in his beautiful book, 

 **A Breath from the Veld," in a lifelike manner. The 

 female gives birth to a single young one in summer (from 

 November to January). It breeds freely in captivity, and 



