88 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



domestic dogs that is, he would get his hindquarters 

 well jammed into some thorn bush, to prevent attack 

 from behind, and keep his enemies at bay with lowered 

 horns and stamping hoofs. Wild dogs seldom attack 

 in front, but prefer to get their victim on the run, when, 

 without risk to themselves, they can tear its flanks open. 

 I once owned a big boarhound which ran in and pinned 

 by the hock a half-grown wildebeest bull which I had 

 wounded ; but I think, had I not come up quickly, that 

 it would have gone hard with the dog. 



When undisturbed, and calling each other, blue wilde- 

 beests utter a peculiar and resonant " kwank," which 

 may be heard most often in the early mornings, when the 

 herds are collecting after the night's grazing. The alarm 

 note is a series of hoarse snorts, while the males may 

 sometimes be heard bleating like big goats. Generally 

 speaking, they are less habitually silent animals than are 

 the majority of antelopes. They are sociable creatures, 

 and are not only often found in very large herds where 

 free from persecution, but are frequently associated 

 with other animals, notably with Burchell's zebra, for 

 which they have apparently so strong a friendship that 

 the individuals of the two species are often found grazing 

 mixed up together ; though, on the alarm being given, 

 each draws away to the companions of his own type. 

 Bulls are sometimes met with solitary, but more often, in 

 South Africa, attached to herds of zebra, impala, tsessebe, 

 or waterbuck, less frequently to sable antelope, and on 

 the occasions when I have noticed this, the wildebeest 

 seemed to keep at a respectful distance from his hosts. 



On winding or catching sight of a man, a blue wilde- 

 beest will stand stock still, staring for a very considerable 

 time. Then, giving his long tail a preliminary whisk, 

 he springs round abruptly on all four feet and dashes 



