ORDER RUMINANTIA. 367 



elevated eyebrows, with an oblique look directed towards 

 the earth ; whence the name which it bears. Its mane 

 rises on the summit of the head, descends on the fore- 

 head and covers the face, giving an additional terror to its 

 aspect. 



The generic characters which distinguish the Catoblepas 

 from other ruminants are, a square head, with horns in both 

 sexes, flat and broad at the base, nearly joining, lying out- 

 wards on the frontal ridge, in general turning down with 

 the points uncinating upwards ; they are without annuli, 

 wrinkles, or striae, but round and smooth from their 

 points to where they join the head ; the muzzle is very 

 broad ; the nostrils bovine, and provided internally with a 

 valve of a triangular form, which opens and closes at plea- 

 sure *, and glands on the cheek. They have a mane on 

 the neck, and a considerable beard upon the throat ; a small 

 dewlap ; a ridge of hair on the chaffron ; bristles round the 

 eyes, and upon the lips; the carcass and tail of a horse, 

 and the legs like those of a stag. The genus is confined to 

 Central and Southern Africa ; is possessed of uncommon 

 vigour and swiftness, is vicious and pugnacious, living in 

 herds on the desert, seemingly as regardless of shade and 

 of water, as the Quacha, or the Ostridge. 



The Gnoo. (C. Gnu.) This species is the smallest of 

 the genus yet known, measuring at the shoulder not more 

 than three feet nine or ten inches, and from nose to tail 

 little more than six feet six inches. The head is square, the 

 neck thick, the shoulders deep, the body very short and 

 rounded, the croup broad, with a pillow of fat upon each 

 hip, and the legs long and finely formed, and composing 

 altogether an animal exceedingly compact and active. The 

 horns commence as in the Cape Buffalo on the summit of 

 the frontals, very near each other, couched fiat outwards, 



* Observed by Dr. Leach, Mr. Cross, and myself; noticed by 

 Mr. Gray, and originally by Mr. Pennant. 



