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THE AKNEE AND THE CAPE BUFFALO. 



The Arnee lives in large herds, arranged after the manner of all 

 bovine animals, the females and young being always placed in the safest 

 spots, while the males post themselves in all positions of danger. These 

 herds are never seen on elevated ground, preferring the low marshy dis- 

 tricts where water and mud are abundant. In this mud they love to 

 wallow, and when suddenly roused from their strange pastime present 

 a most terrible appearance, their eyes glaring fiercely from amid the 

 mud-covered, dripping masses of hair. Sometimes the Buffalo is said 

 to fall a victim to its propensity for wallowing in the mud, and to be 

 stuck so firmly in the oozy slime, as it dries under the scorching sun- 

 beams of that burning climate, that it can be killed without danger. It 

 generally chews the cud while it is lying immersed in mud or water. 



The Cape Buffalo is quite as formidable an animal as its Indian 

 relative, and much more terrible in outward aspect. The heavy 



The Cape Buffalo {Buhalus Caffer). 



bases of the horns, that nearly unite over the forehead, and under 

 which the little fierce eyes twinkle with sullen rays, give to the crea- 

 ture's countenance an appearance of morose, lowering ill-temper which 

 is in perfect accordance with its real character. 



Owing to the enormous heavy mass which is situated on the forehead, 

 the Cape Buffalo does not see very well in a straight line, so that a 

 man may sometimes cross the track of one within a hundred yards, 

 and not be seen by the animal, provided that he walks quietly and 

 does not attract attention by the sound of his footsteps. This animal 

 is ever a dangerous neighbor, but when it leads a solitary life among 

 the thickets and marshy places, it is a worse antagonist to a casual 

 passenger than even the lion himself. In such a case, it has an unpleas- 



