THE BRINDLED GNU 129 



this chevron is constant or not, or tends, as in 

 the case of the elands, to be individual rather 

 than general, it is of course difficult authori- 

 tatively to say, but there are grounds for 

 supposing it to be much more marked in some 

 specimens than in others. 



On wide, i oiling, or flat plains bordering 

 forest country and near to water wildebeest e 

 may at times be seen in very large herds. In 

 thinly forested, woodland scenery, although not 

 often found, they may at times be met with, but 

 in smaller numbers. Often in the early morning 

 one may see them feeding quietly on their way 

 back from water to the edge of the forest, and 

 again at late afternoon they may be observed 

 in a long string making their way down for their 

 evening drink. They are grass - feeders, and 

 greatly given to associating with other animals, 

 especially water-buck, zebras, and other dwellers 

 in the open plains. At a short distance they 

 appear to be almost black, the contrast being 

 doubtless heightened by the pale colom* of their 

 surroundings in the winter months of the shooting 

 season. 



On the Urema plains of Gorongoza a few 

 years ago brindled gnus were very abundant. 

 From the vantage-ground of partial concealment 

 in a palm belt in which my camp was for some 

 days pitched, I have watched their comings 

 and goings at almost all hours of the day. On 

 one occasion, having wounded a fine male, my 

 hunter and I came up to him, after a long 

 and wearisome spooring, in a wide, thick belt of 



