THE BRINDLED GNU 131 



with an uncomfortable bit, and paw the ground 

 viciously. If you now pick out one and fire, 

 instead of making good these futile menaces, 

 the whole herd wiU instantly wheel round and 

 stampede madly, to pull up, wheel round, and 

 renew their stare after a few hundred yards have 

 been covered. The wounded member, even 

 though mortally hit, will often dash wUdly round 

 in a half-circle and foUow his companions, or at 

 least attempt to do so. I have known them, 

 on more than one occasion, with a bullet through 

 the heart, cover quite a considerable distance 

 before falling. 



WTiilst I was camped on the Urema flats, 

 blue wildebeeste at evening often fed up to 

 within 100 or 150 yards of my tent, if the wind 

 happened to be favourable, without displaying 

 the smallest uneasiaess or, I think, making us 

 out. 



The calves make their appearance, I am told, 

 in the months of December and January. They 

 are ciu-ious, brown, lanky little things with large 

 plaintive eyes and a depressing and ceaseless 

 bleat. One of these was brought into my camp 

 on one occasion by the carriers. It was most 

 friendly, and took milk very confidingly. I 

 kept it alive for nearly a fortnight, when suddenly 

 it died, after having become quite touchingly 

 tame. These animals seem to be distinguished 

 in their early youth by extreme and dispro- 

 portionate length of limb. It is stated that their 

 mothers hide them in remote grass patches whilst 

 very young during the day, and doubtless many 



