18/6.] DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTH-AFRICAN MAMMALS. 287 



In summer the colour of their skin is a dark brown ; but in winter this 

 turns to black. On taking out the brains when preserving a head 

 there is generally found a quantity of a large white maggot, more 

 like an exaggerated woodlouse than the common maggot ; the Bles- 

 bock too seems equally afflicted with these creatures. In December 

 we observed lots of young calves ; they resembled their mothers in 

 colour ; at this time the old bulls lead a solitary life, and seem to be 

 much tamer, as I one day walked up to two on open ground to within 

 one hundred and fifty yards, whereas they will scarcely allow one 

 within five hundred on ordinary occasions. This species is liable tp 

 an epidemic which at times, I believe, makes great havoc amongst 

 them ; 1 saw a young one in this condition : all the hair was off as 

 if it had been burnt ; and it was unable to rise. It is very amusing 

 to watch the antics of a herd when aroused or excited ; when ap- 

 proached to within five or six hundred yards they chase one another 

 round and round for a short time, stand, stare, and paw the ground, 

 then lashing their long white tails against their sides, set off as hard 

 as they can go. They go in herds of from eight to fifty ; but I 

 never saw them in such masses as the Blesbocks. They exhibit a good 

 deal of curiosity ; three approached our waggon one day when out- 

 spanned close enough to allow of my shooting one of their number 

 from the waggon-box, where I was sitting writing. 



Although the Orange Free State and the Transvaal are the head- 

 quarters of this animal, yet they are found considerably to the north 

 and west of this, as Chapman mentions meeting with this species on 

 the Chobi river, which is in 18° S. lat., and 25° E. long.; Baines 

 and Andersson mention it as common in some parts of South-west 

 Africa through which they travelled. 



In summer the old males separate from the herds and live solitary. 

 At this time they fix on one spot, making a sort of lair, to which 

 they will return after feeding or being disturbed. This sometimes 

 leads to their destruction ; for if two or three men go together, the 

 old bull immediately gets up and goes away ; on this one of the 

 party lies down in the spot lately occupied by the beast, the other 

 two then retire. The Wildebeest thinking every thing is now safe 

 goes quietly back to his particular spot, and is then shot at by the 

 man who is lying down. 



20. Catoblepas gorgon. (The Brindled Gnu.) 



The Blue Wildebeest, as it is generally called in S. Africa, was at 

 one time found in abundance almost to the borders of Cape colony ; 

 but it does not seem to have entered it, according to Dr. Smith's ac- 

 count of that animal ; it is yet found in the Zulu country ; and, ac- 

 cording to Baines and Andersson, it is common in Damara-land. In 

 Col. Grant's 'Observations' sent to the Geographical Society he says: — 

 •■ This Gnu was found in large herds in Khutu, in the western borders 

 of Uyaramo. It inhabits the park-like country adjoining the river 

 Kingani, and was not seen after crossing the east coast range." It is a 

 common species through S. Africa, very often being in company with 

 Burchell's Zebra. About November the old bulls separate from the 



