Antilopid-e.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-ASTlhOFIDJE. 



1G5 



from whose beautiful work, entitled " Portraits of tlie 

 Game and Wild Animals of Southern Africa," the 

 annexed illustration of the brindlod species is given, 

 furnishes the foUomng proof of tlieir speed, and of their 

 resemblance to a lion when seen at a great distance. 

 " ^\^ulst crossing the bomidless plains of the Vaal river, 

 wo had an opportunity of remarldng the very similar 

 appearance of the two animals, in twice witnessing the 

 animating but abortive pirrsuit of a herd of Gnoos by 

 an enormous lion, rendered perfectly furious by the 

 qualms of hunger, and still more desperately frantic 

 at the disappointment entailed by the slippery heels 

 of his intended \'ictims, who, on both occasions, left 

 their grim pursuer far belnnd, puffing and blowing, to 

 grumble over tlie loss of the morning repast which he 

 had vainly promised liimself." The same eloquent 

 winter, thorough sportsman, and competent naturalist, 

 saj's — " These rmgaudy beasts are nevertheless shot 

 from horseback ^vithout much difficulty, and can 

 scarcely be pronounced formidable except in external 

 appearance. The eyes are lowering and expressive of 

 great ferocity ; the solid casque of the horn, by which 

 their beetling brows are overshadowed, greatly height- 

 ening their aspect of suspicion and vhichctiveness. 

 Like odier animals possessing dispositions far more 

 gentle and tractable, the Gnoo is natm-ally prone to 

 charge in self-defence when wounded or forced uito a 

 corner ; but, after fracturing its leg, I have repeateihy 

 di'iven a reluctixnt uidividual up to the waggons, either 

 to escape the trouble of carrying his sirloui, or because 



I had expended tlie last bullet in my pouch. In the 

 wild districts bordering on the colony, where a succes- 

 sion of level plains are traversed by low ranges of bare 

 stony hills, prancing troops, consisting of from fifteen 

 to thirty Gnoos of various sizes, are to be seen engaged 

 in tlie most wanton frolics, and may easily be hemmed 

 into a valley and compelled to nm the gauntlet." And 

 further on he adds : — " The curious and inquisitive 

 disposition of the Gnoo, often induces the herd to dis- 

 contmue tlieir giddy gambols, and slowly to approach 

 the passing caravan vrith an air of laughable defiance, 

 formed in a compact square, gazing, menacing, stamp- 

 ing with their slender fore-feet, and at length halting 

 withm rifle range to scrutinize the bold uitruders upon 

 their lone and hereditary pastures." Such is Captain 

 Hanis' account of the whimsical character of tliis sin- 

 gular antelope, and it is fully borne out by the less 

 animated descriptions of other travellers. The female 

 Gnoo usually produces a solitary calf at a single birth, 

 which at first exliibits a whitish cream-coloured fur, 

 subsequently becoming reddish-grey. The flesh of the 

 adult is coarse, but that of the calf is considered excel- 

 lent. The tail is used for making chowi-ies, whilst the 

 hide is brayed and converted into riems or thongs ; in 

 this state it is chiefly employed as harness, being also 

 applied to otlier economic uses as a substitute for rope 

 or twine. 



THE BKINDLED GNOO (Catobkims Gorgon), Ko- 

 KOON, or Gorgon, is readily distinguished from tlie 

 common species by its arched face, laterally directed 



The Brindled Gnoo 

 horns, deep bluish-black hide striped with obscure 

 vertical bands, absence of any tufts of hair between 

 the fore-legs, and immensely thick, elevated and 

 powerful shoulders (fig. 58). The body measures nine 

 feet in length, mcluding tiie tail and head ; the latter 

 alone being twenty-three niches from the tip of the 

 muzzle to the occipital crest. The Bruidled Gnoo 

 inhabits the interior plains of Southern Africa to 

 the nortii of Orange river, its manners being similar 



(Catoblepas GorgonJ. 



to those of its congeners. Accordhig to some autho- 

 rities the name Kohoon ought to be applied to the 

 common species ; but we prefer the authority of Cap- 

 tain Harris, who remarks that it is tiius named by 

 the Beclinanas, while the Dutch colonists call it the 

 Bastaard, and tiie Hottentot tribes designate it the 

 Baas or Kaojj. He gives also the foUowing gi-aphio 

 description of its maimers : — " When excited by the 

 appearance of any suspicious object, or aroused by any 



