134 ANTELOPES 



evidently doomed, and as a truly wild animal no longer exists. In 

 captivity gnus display the same grotesque habits as in the wild state. 

 In both conditions they frequently tear up the ground with their 

 horns, to the no small detriment of the tips of those formidable 

 weapons, which the old bulls know only too well how to use in attack. 

 Gnus are, indeed, dangerous animals in confinement, and should be 

 approached with caution. 



THE BRINDLED GNU OR BLUE WILDEBEEST 



( Co7inocJicctcs taurimis) 



Ee-vumba, Makalaka ; Ikokoni, Basuto ; Inkoni-koni, Amandebili ; 

 Inkongoni, SwAZi AND Zulu ; Kokong, Barotsi and Batoka ; 

 Koop, Hottentot ; Minyumbwe, Batonga ; Nuinbo, Masubia ; 

 Nyamba, Chilala AND Chisenga ; Unsozo, Makuba ; Nyavibii, 

 SWAHILI ; Oangat, Masai. 



(Plate iii, figs. 3, 4, and 5) 



When they first crossed the Gariep or Orange river into what is 

 now the Orange River Colony, the Boers came across vast herds of an 

 antelope which they recognised as a near relative of their well-known 

 wildebeest of the plains to the south ; and to this species, from its 

 colour, they gave the name blaauzv wildebeest, while, as mentioned 

 above, they further distinguished the southern species as the zwart 

 (black) wildebeest. By the Hottentots the northern species was 

 christened koop, a name now fallen into oblivion ; and by English 

 naturalists it is now very generally known as the brindled, or black- 

 tailed, gnu. This gnu is a considerably larger animal than the typical 

 species, adult bulls standing from about 51 to 53 inches at the 

 shoulder. The horns also are much more like those of a buffalo in 

 shape, being but little expanded at the base, and directed at first 

 mainly outwards, after which, at their maximum span, they bend 

 sharply upwards, and finally inwards and forwards. The tail is wholly 

 black, the mane is long and partially pendent, and there is a thick 

 fringe on the throat, but no long hair on the lower part of the throat 

 and between the fore-legs. The long hair on the face forms a large 

 tuft below each eye. The general body-colour varies from grizzled 

 roan to blackish slaty brown, with more or less distinct vertical dark 

 stripes on the sides of the neck and fore-quarters, these being most 



