382 ON THB 



by a double flexure, and by numerons prominent 

 rings or circles throughout their whole length. 

 It is altogethera most light, and elegant animal, 

 inhabiting often in herds of two or three thousand, 

 the hilly countries of the warmer latitudes of 

 Asia, and Africa ; where, like the Goat, it clamb- 

 ers up precipitous rocks to browse upon their 

 scanty productions, or it feeds upon the tender 

 shoots of trees peculiar to those regions ; being 

 active, restless, timid, and wonderfully swift ; 

 bounding from place to place with vast elasticity, 

 and, when alarmed, making extraordinary leaps 

 over precipices and gaps, or whatever may inter- 

 rupt its progress ; frequently stopping to watch 

 its pursuers, and then, with increased energy, 

 renewing its flight. Next to the elegant form of 

 its body and limbs the symmetry of which, nature 

 has displayed its greatest taste, it is distinguished 

 by those full and beautifully black eyes, that so 

 often have formed the subject of romantic eulo- 

 gium and simile in Eastern Poetry. 



Among the varieties of the Antelope genus, 

 the Gnou, which 1 lately had an opportunity of 

 seeing alive in London, from its singular con- 

 firmation, has especially attracted the notice of 

 naturalists. 



This animal, to Which the African name of 

 Gnou has been given from its bellowing like an 

 ox, is a native of the plains of Numagua, to the 

 north of the Cape of Good Hope, and by some 



