166 



THE GNOO. 



Catoblepas Gnu. SMITH. 

 PLATE XXII. 



Antelope Gnu of English Authors The Gnoo, Daniel, II- 



lust, of the Scenery of Southern Africa Catoblepas Gnu, 



Smith in Griff. Cuv. 



WITH this very singular animal Major Smith 

 commences the Bovine race, and he is followed in 

 a similar manner by Mr Swainson in his family Bo- 

 vidce. We shall particularly notice the family as we 

 proceed, after describing the present animal and the 

 Musk Ox. Mr Smith indicates four species, and 

 applied the above generic name to them. They in- 

 habit the plains of Central and Southern Africa, 

 abounding on the arid deserts in company with herds 

 of the zebra and quagga, and flocks of ostriches, and 

 beyond the bounds of civilization, where some spe- 

 cies have not been nearly extirpated, are almost al- 

 ways found in company. The aspect of the head is 

 decidedly bovine, the forehead is ample and flat, 

 and the horns, which are present in both sexes, are 

 placed on the fore part of the frontal ridge, flattened 

 and large, and nearly meeting at the base. They 



