THE WHITE-TAILED GNU 257 



Again, Gordon Gumming thus picturesquely writes 

 of them : " Wheeling about in endless circles, and 

 performing the most extraordinary variety of intri- 

 cate evolutions, the shaggy herds of these eccentric 

 and fierce-looking animals caper and gambol round 

 the hunter on every side. While he is riding hard 

 to obtain a family shot at a herd in front of him, 

 other herds are charging down wind on his right and 

 left, and, having described a number of circular 

 movements, they take up positions upon the very 

 ground across which he rode only a few minutes 

 before. Singly, and in small troops, the old bulls 

 may be seen standing motionless during a whole 

 forenoon, watching with a philosophic eye the move- 

 ments of the other game, eternally uttering a loud 

 snorting noise, and also a short sharp cry which is 

 peculiar to them. When the hunter approaches 

 they begin prancing and capering, and pursue one 

 another at their utmost speed. Suddenly they all 

 pull up together, to overhaul the intruder, when two 

 bulls will often commence fighting in the most 

 violent manner, dropping on their knees at every 

 shock; then, quickly wheeling about, they whirl 

 their tails w^ith a fantastic flourish, and scour across 

 the plains enveloped in a cloud of dust." 



The gnu is curious and excessively inquisitive, 

 and in early days the herds often stopped in their 

 gambols, and approached the passing wagon with 



