THE BLUE WILDEBEEST 



95 



hitherto been offered. It is possible that the old 

 wildebeest had been scratching his huge face with 

 one foreleg passed down between the horns, when 

 in a standing position. In this attitude the head 

 can be easily depressed, to allow the hoof to 

 pass between the horns : I have seen eland and 

 singsing waterbuck easily perform the feat. In 

 being withdrawn, the hoof might readily be caught 

 in the horn, and the animal feeling the check, and 

 standing awkwardly on three legs, would probably 

 struggle to release his foot, his efforts only resulting 

 in locking it still tighter, till at last it became 

 inextricably jammed. This explanation is sug- 

 gested because though the incident has been 

 commented upon by naturalists no one has hitherto 

 attempted to account for it in this manner. 



The blue wildebeest has frequently been brought 

 alive to Europe, and is to-day well represented 

 in zoological gardens, where it is known as the 

 "brindled gnu": the following notes are from 

 observations on captive specimens during the last 

 seven years : 



The disposition of this antelope may be described 

 as a curious mixture of eccentricity, inquisitiveness, 

 and ferocity. Although not equalling the black 

 wildebeest (white-tailed gnu of European Zoos) 

 in the absurdity of its behaviour, Connochaetes 

 taurinus is nevertheless one of the clowns of the 

 animal world. It indulges in wild capers on the 



