354 NATURALIST'S CAB'INET. 



Mode of attack, 



animals dart against any object may be con- 

 ceived from the following circumstance. A re- 

 markably large nyl-ghau was feeding hi an in- 

 closure, where a poor labouring man, without 

 knowing that the animal was near him, and 

 therefore neither meaning to offend nor suspect- 

 ing the danger, came up to the outside of the 

 pales. The nyl-ghau, with the velocity of light- 

 ning, darted against the wood-work with such 

 violence that he shattered it to pieces, and broke 

 off one of his horns close to the root. This vio- 

 lence was supposed to occasion his death, which 

 happened not long after. 



These animals are frequently brought from 

 the interior parts of Asia, as a valuable present to 

 the nabobs, and other great men in the European 

 settlements in India. In some parts of the East, 

 they are considered royal game, and are only 

 hunted by princes, or persons of the first quality. 



A nyl-ghau is now (1806) exhibited in the me- 

 nagerie at Exeter 'Change. It is about six years 

 old, arrd has been in Mr. Pidcock's possession 

 upwards of three years. It is a very fine animal, 

 but cannot be approached by strangers. In pre- 

 paring for an attack it always falls on its knees, 

 and buts violently with its head. The keepe? 

 informs me that it subsists entirely on hay and: 

 corn. 



END OF VOL. I. 



