328 



HUNTING THE ANTELOPE. 



from its resting-place under some shadowy sycamore, scampering over the 

 plains almost as fast as the blackcrested ostriches. 



Conspicuous among this vast assembly of African beasts was a huge 

 queer-looking ox or cow or horse — or what ? — it was not easy to tell how to 

 classify it, for it resembled all three and in addition had the head and mane 

 of an American bison. The Colonel, however, was not slow to recognize in 

 this unwieldy, shaggy beast the East African gnu or wildebeest and he was 

 very anxious to secure a good specimen for the National Museum. No 



PHOTOGRAPH OF AN ELAND BULL WHOSE SKIN WAS PREPARED FOR THE MUSEUM, 



sooner, therefore, had he pitched camp on Sir Alfred Pease's ranch, in the 

 neighborhood of Kapiti station, than he set out in search of a herd of gnus. 

 His efforts were not long in being crowned with success. A medium-sized herd 

 was espied grazing on the velt. Our Colonel selected a large bull for his 

 target and succeeded, by stalking, in getting within shooting distance. But the 

 bullet failed to secure the prey, and the big bull turned around, galloping 

 away at a speed hardly to be expected in such a clumsy and heavy animal. 

 Leaving it to Kermit to ride down the fleeing bull the Colonel at once selected 



