40 



HISTORY OF THE GNU. 



There is another variety of the gnu, a male and female 

 of which was exhibited at Cross's menagerie, in Pail-Mall 

 East ; and in their appearance, partook more of the ante- 

 lope tribe than the preceding. Mr. Pringle, who had seen 

 this variety in its native regions, observes, " that the gnu 

 forms a graceful link between the buffalo and the antelope ; 

 possessing the distinct features which, according to natu- 

 ralists, are peculiar to the latter tribe. The gnu exhibits 

 at the same time, in his general aspect, figure, motions, 

 and even the texture and taste of his flesh, qualities which 

 partake very strongly of the bovine character. Among 

 other peculiarities, I observed, that, like the buffalo or the 

 ox, he is strangely affected by the sight of scarlet ; and it 

 was one of our amusements, when approaching these ani- 

 mals, to hoist a red handkerchief on a pole and to observe 

 them caper about, lashing their flanks with their long tails, 

 and tearing up the ground with their hoofs, as if they were 

 violently excited, and ready to rush down upon us ; and 

 then, all at once, when we were about to fire upon them, to 

 see them bound away, and again go prancing round at a 

 safer distance. When wounded, they are reported to be 

 sometimes rather dangerous to the huntsman ; but though 

 we shot several at different times, I never witnessed any 

 instance of this. On one occasion, a young one, apparently 

 only a week or two old, whose mother had been shot, fol- 

 lowed the huntsmen home, and I attempted to rear it on 

 cow's milk. In a few days it appeared quite as tame as a 

 common calf, and seemed to be thriving; but afterwards 

 from some unknown cause, it sickened and died. I heard, 

 however, of more than one instance in that part of the 

 colony, where the gnu, thus caught young, has .been reared 

 with domestic cattle, and had become so tame as to go 

 regularly out to pasture with the herds, without exhibiting 

 any inclination to resume their natural freedom." 



