166 



AXTII.OPID^E. 11AMMALIA. 



unusual noise, the Kokoon is wont to appear much 

 more grim and ferocious than it actually proves ; not 

 uufrequently approaching with an air of defiance, as if 

 resolved to do battle with the hunter, but decamping 

 upon the very first exhibition of hostility on his part. 

 On being pursued, the herd bring their aquiline noses 

 low between their knees, and flourishing their stream- 

 ing black tails, tear away in long regular files at a 

 furious gallop ; wheeling curiously about at the distance 

 of two or three hundred yards, advancing boldly towards 

 the danger, tossing their shaggy heads in a threatening 

 manner, presently making a sudden stop, presenting 

 an impenetrable front of horns, and staring wildly at 

 the object of their mistrust. The slightest demonstra- 

 tion, however, is sufficient to put the whole squadron to 

 flight, when they make a somewhat shorter excursion, 

 again wheel in a circle, show a more menacing and 

 imposing front than before, and most probably take up 

 their position within sure rifle range. When engaged 

 in grazing, they have an extremely dull and clumsy 

 appearance, and at a little distance might often be 

 mistaken for wild buffaloes ; but their usual manner is 

 sportive, at one moment standing to gaze at nothing, 

 and at the next scampering over the plain without any 

 apparent object in view, making various grotesque 

 curves and plunges, with their preposterous bonassus- 

 lookiug heads laid between the fore-legs." The flesh 

 of the Kokoon resembles that of beef, and is much 

 sought after by the natives. The hide is dressed with 

 the mane and beard attached, and when carefully pre- 

 pared is converted into useful and ornamental cloaks, 

 shawls, and tippets. 



THE NYL-GHATJ (Portax pieta) Plate 20, fig. 67 

 is a native of India. It is as large as a stag, the sum- 

 mit of the shoulders standing more than four feet from 

 the ground. The fur exhibits a tawny, ferruginous 

 colour generally, being in the male of a uniform bluish- 

 grey at the upper parts. The head is furnished with a 

 pair of short horns, about seven inches in length, which 

 are slightly recurved forwards ; they do not exist in the 

 female. The muzzle is remarkably attenuated; the 

 ears are rounded, and the lachrymal sinuses rather 

 large. The neck is broad and compressed laterally; 

 and at the under part, near the middle line, it is fur- 

 nished with a conspicuous tuft of hair. Immediately 

 above this beard-like development there is a whitish 

 spot; two similar patches being also seen on either 

 cheek, below and in front of the eye. Besides these, 

 the pasterns are marked with white spots forming more 

 or less distinct bands round the ankle-joints. The 

 mane is pretty strongly developed, especially over the 

 region of the shoulders, where it forms a thickish tuft. 

 The tail is long and bushy at the tip. According to 

 Mr. Ogilby, the Nyl-ghau dwells principally in dense 

 forests, " whence it occasionally makes excursions very 

 early in the morning, or during the night, to feed upon 

 the corn-fields of the natives which happen to be situ- 

 ated in the vicinity of the jungle. It is a vicious animal, 

 of very uncertain temper, and as it is both powerful and 

 resolute, and frequently turns upon its pursuers, it is 

 seldom made an object of chase, except by the native 

 princes, who employ elephants for this purpose, or 

 inclose the game in nets." It is likewise added, that 



" even in confinement, and when domesticated from 

 birth, the violent and changeable temper of the Nyl- 

 ghau cannot be trusted. Previous to making an attack, 

 it drops upon the fore-knees, advancing in this position 

 till within a proper distance; then darting suddenly 

 forwards with the velocity of an arrow, and with a force 

 which no ordinary animal can withstand." The female 

 commonly produces two young at a birth, her period 

 of gestation extending over a period of eight months. 



THE BOSCH-BOC ( Tragelaphus sylvatica] is an inha- 

 bitant of Cape Colony and Caflraria, dwelling more 

 particularly in forests near the sea-coast. The body 

 of a full-grown male stands two feet eight inches high 

 at the shoulder, and measures rather more than five 

 feet in length. The fur exhibits a bright-chestnut 

 colour generally, being darker superiorly, but marked 

 along the spine by a narrow white streak ; white spots 

 also exist on the cheek, as well as on the flanks and fet- 

 locks. The forehead has a deep sienna-brown colour, 

 and the neck is encircled by a collar-like band of a still 

 darker hue. The horns are about a foot long, thick 

 below, and gradually attenuated towards the rather 

 blunt extremities ; their position is erect, and they are 

 marked by spirally directed ridges in front and behind, 

 which disappear after traversing the first two-thirds of 

 their length. The ears are large and rounded, the 

 limbs stoutish, the tail of moderate extent, and the 

 muzzle naked. There are no lachrymary openings. 

 The females are hornless, and furnished with four 

 mamma. Respecting the habits of the Bosch-boc, Mr. 

 Ogilby states that it never quits its forest haunts except 

 during bright moonlight nights, " when it comes out to 

 graze on the border of the forest, or to make incursions 

 into the neighbouring gardens and corn-fields. Its 

 voice resembles the barking of a dog, and its deceitful 

 tone sometimes leads the benighted traveller into the 

 most remote and lonely depths of the forest, in the vain 

 search after some human habitation, which he is all 

 the time leaving behind him. It is a slow runner, and 

 easily caught when surprised ; but it keeps close to the 

 woods, through which it penetrates with great ease, 

 running with the horns couched backwards along the 

 sides of the neck to prevent them from impeding its 

 course by striking against the branches, and having the 

 neck and throat frequently denuded by rubbing against 

 the underwood, as it forces its passage through the 

 thick covers." The Bosch-bocs are monogamous, 

 or solitary, the male and female being usually found 

 together, or accompanied only by one or two offspring. 



THE KOODOO (Strepsiceros Kudu} is also an inha- 

 bitant of the wilds of Caffraria and Southern Africa, 

 generally frequenting also the borders of streams, and 

 not refusing to take to the water when occasion may 

 require. It is a very large and attractive species, 

 measuring upwards of nine feet in extreme length, and 

 standing more than five feet high at the shoulders. 

 The horns are massive and beautifully curved into two 

 wide-spreading spiral circles ; they are upwards of three 

 feet in length, of a brown colour, having their tips 

 directed outwards and upwards. The muzzle is broad, 

 the ears large and pointed at the ends, the forehead 

 black, the shoulders much elevated, and there are no 

 suborbital sinuses. The fur has a buff-grey colour 



