CHAPTER XX 



THE WHITE-TAILED GNU 



Fast disappearing — Present numbers and habitat — Curious 

 characteristics — Sparrmann's and Barrow's description — A 

 true Antelope — Wild aspect — A dangerous beast — Kesem- 

 blance to horns of Musk Ox — Grotesque evolutions — Gordon 

 Cumming's description — Inquisitive traits — Ravages of 

 " brandt sickte " — Ancient habitat — Liking for Quagga and 

 Ostriches — Specimens at the Zoological Gardens — Curious 

 likeness to cattle — Poverty of specimens in Natural History 

 Museum. 



Among the fast-disappearing forms of wild animal 

 life in South Africa this animal now occupies, 

 unhappily, a leading place. It is, in fact, a good 

 deal nearer extinction than most people are aware 

 of Quite recently there have been one or two 

 shipments of this gnu to Europe. A collector in 

 Holland has had some success in breeding from cap- 

 tive specimens, and within the last two or three years 

 several examples have found their way into England. 

 But upon its own karroos and plains in Cape Colony 

 and the Orange Free State this interesting quad- 

 ruped is now conspicuous by its almost complete 

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