In Wildest Africa -^ 



there march great herds of the white-bearded gnus, that 

 remind one so of small buftaloes. Slowly they make 

 their way to the more open grazing ground and disperse 

 themselves over it. But careful watch is kept by a few 

 of them — the bulls that lead the herds, experienced old 

 fellows ! Under their guardianship the herd feels itself 

 perfectly safe. There is also an unusually large drove 

 of the wonderfully graceful impallah or black-tailed ante- 

 lope. What a remarkable contrast is presented as the 

 herds mingle together ! The gnus, strongly built, haughty 

 in their bearing, conscious of their strength against 

 all animal foes, stand out wonderfully amongst their 

 almost too graceful comrades, the impallah-antelopes. 

 We can plainly distinguish that the females and those 

 that are accompanied by young ones keep more together, 

 while the bucks of the Impallah-antelopes keep apart 

 and look after their safety. 



Now a dark black mass slowly separates itself from 

 a large group of trees. It is followed by several forms 

 that do not so easily catch the eye. Our field-glasses tell 

 us that a small flock of ostriches has come to mix with 

 the wild species already noted. Now there are perhaps 

 well over three hundred head of these three kinds ot 

 wild animals united together In one gathering. They 

 are used to come together In the most friendly way, 

 without apparently taking much notice of each other. 

 For a long time the sight of these creatures, all so 

 different, holds us fascinated. But our optical Instruments 

 must restlessly explore the distance for new sights of 

 the animal kingdom ; and at the same time there are even 



214 



