WHITE-TAILED GNU 



143 



Horns of White-Tailed Gnu. From V. II. Barber's specimen. 



WHITE-TAILED GNU (Connochcetes gnu). 



This southern species is the true gnu, being formerly known to the 

 Hottentots by that name, while, by the colonists, it is termed the black 

 wildebeest. Its inferior size (height at shoulder about 3 ft. 10 ins.), 

 the downward curvature of the horns at starting and their great 

 expansion at the base, the pure white tail, and the abundant fringe of 

 long hair on the chest and fore part of the belly, serve at once to dis- 

 tinguish it from the brindled gnu. The general colour is uniform deep 

 amber- brown, passing into black. Females are much smaller than 

 males ; and have the horns more slender and less expanded at the 

 base. 



Distribution. — The northern range of this species was approximately 

 limited by the Vaal, or northern branch of the Orange River. 

 Like most of the large animals of the Cape it is now rapidly 

 approaching extermination, being apparently at present represented 

 by herds of a few hundred head preserved by the Boers of the 

 Orange Free State. On the plains of the latter country, as well 

 as on the Karoos of Cape Colony, it was formerly found in vast 

 herds, generally in company with quaggas. Fierce and treacherous 

 in disposition, it was especially characterised by its habit of indul- 

 ging in grotesque capers and frolics on the approach of strangers ; 

 a practice totally unknown to its cousin on the farther side of 

 the Vaal River. 



