THE CAPE BUFFALO. 93 



In the living specimen in the Zoological Gardens, from 

 which the figure at the head of this article was taken, there 

 is a good deal of hair of a dark brown colour on the neck 

 and shoulders, and some small tufts on the fore-legs, but 

 the rest of the body is almost naked. The tail is short, 

 with a tuft at the end. 



The individual here referred to is by no means a large 

 specimen, being only four feet ten inches high at the 

 shoulders ; probably he is young, and not yet full-grown. 

 He is so active, as to be able to clear a four-feet fence, 

 and he frequently leaps over the half-door (about three 

 feet high,) which separates his little enclosure from his 

 dormitory. His intelligence is much [superior to that 

 of ordinary cattle : the entrance to his apartment is fur- 

 nished with four doors, two on each door-post ; and when 

 closed, they of course meet in the middle of the entrance. 

 When he is outside, (as the doors all open inwardly,) a 

 mere push with his horns sends them open. But when 

 he is inside, it requires four distinct operations to shut 

 them, and these he performs with the greatest adroitness, 

 going from one to the other, until all are closed. He 

 opens them also from within with equal skill, by applying 

 the tip of one of his horns to each separately, and retiring 

 a step or two to allow them room to open. 



The flesh of the Cape Buffalo is reckoned excellent 

 eating, especially that of the young calf, which is equal 

 to the veal of the domestic calf. The horns are made 

 into various articles, having a fine close grain, and taking 

 a beautiful polish. But the hide is the most valuable 

 part of this animal, being so thick and tough, that shields, 

 proof against a musket-shot, are formed of it; and it 

 affords the strongest jvnd best thongs for harness and 



